HISTORY 0/7 

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Published by 

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Copyright, 1930, by The International Committee of Young 
Men's Christian Associations. 



JUL 13 1920 



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RE6I0N-0F-LE-MANS 



A Map of the 

American Embarkation 

Center 

Showing PoinU of Y M C A Servic* 

(2) location oftypeA-BorCHut 
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Ct) location of Single Tent 
(^ location of Double Tent 

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SUMMARY OF SERVICE 



YM.CA. 



V 



IN THE 

EMBARKATION CENTER 

From DECEMBER 1918 
to JULY 1919 



Compiled and Edited by Regional Staff at Le Mans 



Under Direction of 

Helen Sinclair Editor-in-Chief 

V. O. Winkenwieder.. Managing Editor 

Hallie Jameson ..Associate Editor 

James E. Tracy... Associate Editor 

Blanche C. Grant Photographer 



M. E. Nellums _..... Statisticia 



ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

Credit is accorded to the U. S. A. Signal Corps for much of the 
photography appearing in this history. 

Acknowledgment is also made to the Stars and Strvpes for the use of 
cuts of divisional insignia. 

Certain valuable statistical information is submitted through the 
courtesy of A. E. C. General Headquarters. 

N. B.: In submitting lists of personnel in connection with each 
unit of the region, excepting those serving particular divisions, it was 
found to be impracticable, because of the constant changes taking 
place, to make up any one list to cover the whole period, hence those 
appearing herein should be understood to be the personnel serving as 
of June, 1919. 









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History of the Y. M. C. A. 




LE MANS— A MILITARY CENTER 

E MANS has been a military center from medieval times 
and was the training center for soldiers of three nations 
daring the recent war. French artillery was trained in 
tlie region, and after the beginning of the World War, 
Belgian troops were brought here for re-organization 

and training. When America entered the war it was onh^ natural that 

her troops should train in this historic spot. 

After many troops had passed through Ee Mans it became the 
training area for the Eighty-third Division in command of Major- 
General Glenn. After the signing of the armistice, G. H. Q., A. E. F., 
searched for a center where, during the process of demobilization, the 
American Army could be sent to complete final arrangements for sail- 
ing for America. From a geographical standpoint no more central place 
could be found, because Le Mans is almost equally distant from the 
embarkation points, Bordeaux, Brest, St. Nazaire and Le Havre, with 
direct railway communication to each. Therefore, it was chosen as 
the center for embarkation troops. 

Up until this time the Le Mans area was a part of the S. O. S., but 
on December 15, 1918, it was taken from that branch and made a 
separate unit known as the American Embarkation Center, or the A. 
E. C. The region consisted of the following camps and areas: Le Mans 
Depot Division (Classification Camp, Spur Camp, Camp Etat, Over- 
haul Park, Salvage Camp, Parigne-L'Evegne, and several other units 
in and about the city.) Forwarding Camp, Belgian Camp, and these 
areas: Ecomnioy, La Suze, Alencon, Sable, Conlie, Ballon, Montfort, 
La Ferte-Bernard, Mayenne, Laval. Chateau-Gontier and Rennes. All 
except the last three are Divisional areas. 

In making Le Mans the Embarkation Center for the movement of 
troops on the part of the army, brought a corresponding change in 
the Y. M. C. A. organization, and the Le Mans region was estab- 
lished, which from the baby region grew to be the largest in the 
whole A. E. F. 




In the Le Mans Area -^ 

AVELFARE WORK IN A. E. C. 
By Brig. Gen. George S. Simonds, U. S. Armij Commander 

HE AMERICAN Embarkation Center was established 
in Le Mans (Sarthe), on December 15, 1919, to provide 
a concentration point at which a maximmn of 200,000 
transient troops per month could be received, cared for, 
prepared in detail to meet embarkation requirements 
and dispatched to various ports. 

In July, 1918, the Second Depot Division formed from the Eighty- 
third Division was established in Le Mans and began to function as a 
replacement depot about August 1. It continued as such until after 
the armistice. With the beginning of the movement of troops home- 
ward, they commenced to arrive in the Le Mans areas preparatory to 
embarkation. The flow thus started in the opposite direction. Instead 
of preparation for service at the front it became a center of prepara- 
tion of the troops for return to the United States and to their normal 
pursuits. To meet the new problems the American Embarkation Center 
was organized as above stated. 

To care for the large number of troops to be sent through, eight 
divisional billeting areas were organized. These, with the Forwarding 
Camp, Belgian Camp, Classification Camp and ^ number of smaller 
camps provided for a maximum capacity of about 325,000 men. 

By June 30, 1919, a total of about 625,000 ofticers and enlisted men 
passed through the center for embarkation to the United States. To 
administer such an establishment it was necessary to provide a head- 
quarters and staff of considerable magnitude. This was done with a 
general staff in control, organized along the lines of the general staff 
at general headquarters. In addition to the usual military problems of 
providing food, clothing and shelter, and administration in general, 
the special problems were presented of reequipping and reclothing 
the men coming from the front; of delousing and cleaning them up; 
of cleaning up the records of organizations, which in the exigencies of 
the service were necessarily in arrears, and of the thousands of indi- 
vidual casuals who, through separation from their organizations, re- 
quired special measures taken with regard to their records; and the 
great problem of providing for the physical and moral welfare of 
these great numbers who no longer had the incentive of training for 
the great struggle of the ages, but were, nevertheless, confronted with 
the no less important question of preparation for return to their normal 
pursuits, which had been so abnormally disturbed, and to which dis- 
turbance the nation had so nobly responded. 



6 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

All of these problems were worked out through the ways and means 
provided by the military organization which was charged with their 
solution. And it is only the latter one, i. e., the provision for the 
welfare of the returning troops that will be touched upon here. This is 
worthy of special mention in this summary, for the reason that in 
the solution of this problem the aid was invoked of all the civilian 
societies operating in the A. E. C. The Y. M. C. A., the American 
Red Cross, the Knights of Columbus, the Jewish Welfare Board and 
tlie American Library Association were all represented. In accordance 
with the general policy announced from General Headquarters, the 
activities of all these societies were placed vmder the control of the 
first section of the General Staff, G-1, and a sub-section with staff 
officers in control was charged with direct supervision of the work. 
The chief of the sub-section was held directly responsible for the co- 
ordination of the various welfare activities ; that proper military con- 
trol was exercized ; that the civilian heads were given proper support ; 
and that proper results were obtained. 

Without exception every societjr res^ponded whole-heartedly to the 
plan provided. Each and every one fell into the general scheme, they 
met with a high degree of efficiency every demand made upon them, 
and they cooperated in a fine spirit with the military authorities and 
with each other. 

The magnitude of this work has far exceeded anything that was 
at first contemplated and the results speak for themselves. This feature 
of the work of the A. E. C. is worthy of special mention, for it differs 
somewhat from the general military problem and it has furnished 
here a striking example of what can be accomplished through the 
non-military agencies where they are brought under one control, where 
their efforts are coordinated, and where they cooperate as they have 
done so cordially and so effectively here. 

The writer desires to make of record the high appreciation the 
military authorities of these headquarters have of the aid which the 
members of these civilian societies have rendered to the army in this 
center, from the ver}^ beginning of its existence. It has been a fine 
exemplification of the spirit of working for the great results which 
has animated the A. E. F. throughout its magnificent undertaking and 
accomplishment in the Great War. And particular appreciation is 
due the women of these societies, who have toiled so earnestly and 
efficiently in this work, and in fulfilling so faithfully the high tradi- 
tions of American womanhood have kept ever before us the ideals 
for which we fought. 




In the Le Mans Area 7 

FOREWORD 

By O. L. Ferris, Regional Director 
HE PROBLEM of organization for the eifective car- 
rying on of the "Y" program in the American Embarka- 
tion Center was unusually difficult, due to the very rapid 
changes in the military plans and the consequent speedy 
movement of the troops in and out of the area. Combat 
Divisions arri'ved with little previous advice and took their departure 
on short notice, often contrary to pre-arranged plans. Divisions came 
into the area and remained for a period of four months, while others 
spent less than a week here. Aside from the regular combat Divisions 
the problem of handling the large numbers of casuals and S. O. S. 
troops was stupendous, from a welfare standpoint particularly, inas- 
much as the latter classes were not accompanied by a static welfare 
personnel as were the regular organized Divisions. 

C A glance at the map of the region reveals the all-comprehensive 
nature of the "Y" service here. The maximum service seems to have 
been reached in the months of ]March and April, at which time there 
were over 300 "Y" stations throughout the area, and in addition thereto 
there were operating at that time 15 rolling canteens, which made 
over r)00.000 services to troops not reached by the regular stationary 
units. 

C The statistical summary for the seven months which mark the 
operation of the American Embarkation Center reveals a rapid growth 
of the organization, and the figures therein combined show in a telling 
way the tremendous quantity of material brought to play in the "Y" 
activities. These can be classed primarily into four great groups: 
Entertainment, Athletic, Religious and Educational, each serving in 
its peculiar way, but each one correlated with all the others. 

C The statistics herein shown only begin to tell the story of the wide 
extent and volume of the activities that fell under these departmental 
heads. The canteen service was considered purely an Army bervice, 
though conducted by the "Y," up to the first of April, when it was 
turned back to the Army. Its stupendousness can best be understood 
by the tabulation of figures which show the large volume of merchan- 
dise that was handled. 

C At no time prior to June in the history of thii region was there an 
adequate supply of men and women secretaries to serve the troops, and 
the figures of personnel serving fell far short of telling the story. 



8 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

The untiring efforts and sacrificial spirit of the men and the women 
secretaries are known only to those who were . intimately associated 
with them, and the human interest stories and commendatory letters are 
multitudinous. Those quoted herein are not to be considered of a per- 
sonal nature, but rather as illustrating only tliese intimate phases of 
the Y. M. C. A.'s contact with the A. E. F. 

d. The ability of the "Y" secretary to associate with him the soldier 
detail made it possible to handle the tremendous task. It would have 
been quite impossible without this assistance on the part of the Army, 
its officers and men. The quality of service has been well understood 
by those who observed the places of trust in which these details were 
placed and by those who observed the character of these men, many 
of whom were decorated for bravery on the field of battle. Faithful 
service to the "Y" was often rewarded by discharge from the Army 
and advent into the "Y" as a regular secretary. 

d. The uniform success of the women secretaries is one of the out- 
standing lights of "Y" service. No task was found too small or too 
large, too difficult, too arduous, nor too complicated for the woman 
secretary to handle successfully. It would have been impossible to 
put over the "Y" program as was done without the women secretaries. 
Their success and the demand for their services are clearly demon- 
strated by the figures which reveal the steady growth in numbers of 
women secretaries in the region. 

CL The problem of billeting in the outlying areas of the Le Mans 
region constantly taxed the resourcefulness of the "Y," not only in tak- 
ing care of its personnel comfortably, but in providing necessary space 
for its activities. 

^ The entire lack of an3^thing but the ordinary small living room in 
many of the French villages made it necessary to erect tents in scores 
of places. The quaintness of many of these small rooms and halls 
that were available and the way in which they were adapted as "Y" 
huts, as well as the unusually attractive decorations and re-arrange- 
ments that transformed them, is the best testimony of the resource- 
fulness of the respective secretaries. The conversion of dreary French 
cafes, of ancient stone barns, of ugly fish markets, and of gloomy 
town halls into cheery "Y's" is a memory that will long live in the 
minds of the secretaries and of the soldiers that were thrown together 
in these stations. 

C The Y. M. C. A. organization in the region falls into three periods; 
the months of December and January under the regional directorship 
of Mr. D. W. Weist, of Cleveland, Ohio, the months of February, 



In the Le ]\Ians Area 9 

March, and April under the regional directorship of A. G. Bookwalter, 
of Cincinatti, Ohio, and the months of May and June under the 
regional directorship of Mr. O. L. Ferris, of Portland, Oregon. Dur- 
iag each of these administrations there was the heartiest cooperation 
and fellowship between the Association and the military authorities, 
an^ there was the constant feeling on the part of the Association 
that it existed as an integral part of the Army and that it was playing 
an important part in the successful handling of the large numbers of 
troops that were passing through the area. 

C During these periods there was likewise the most helpful and 
friendly cooperation between the Y. M. C. A. and the Knights of 
Columbus, the American Red Cross, the Jewish Welfare Board, and 
the American Librarj^ Association (Salvation Army was not repre- 
sented in the region). Many undertakings were handled jointly by 
these societies and at many points the same activities building housed 
not only the "Y" workers, but those of one or more of the other socie- 
ties. The "Y" not only provided its entertainment, cinema and inspira- 
tional lectures, etc., for its own centers, but likewise supplied them to 
each of the other welfare societies without qualification. The demand 
on American women for social activities made it possible for the Asso- 
ciation to have its women secretaries participate in dancing at various 
huts of the other societies as well as those entirely under the supervi- 
sion of the Association, and the petty jealousies that were reported 
in other sections between these societies were entirely absent in this 
region. 

C[, The same friendliness of feeling that marked the Association's 
contact with the Army and with the militarized Welfare Societies 
likewise manifested itself in a marked degree in tlie Association's 
contact with the allied peoples of the region. Man}' Franco-Ameri- 
can occasions were participated in and jointly managed by the Asso- 
ciation, and the constant consultation by the good French people of 
Le Mans with the Association looking toward friendly feeling between 
the Americans and the French, demonstrated the respect which the 
French people hold for the Association. 

d. In this region the "Y, " in addition to the large work for the mem- 
bers of the A. E. F., conducted special work in the Foyers des Soldats 
for the French soldiers stationed there. It also conducted with out- 
standing success "Y" centers in the various Polish Camps for a long- 
time found in the region, and supplied a secretary and equipment for 
work among; the Chinese laborers attached to the French armv. 



10 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

d. In presenting this summary of service of the Association in this 
region, it is my desire to acknowledge keen appreciation for the large 
service in the perfection of the organization of the "Y" program by 
the administration's of D. W. Weist and A. G. Bookwalter, and the 
same keen appreciation for the cooperation and friendliness on the 
part of the military commands of the A. E. C, those of General E. F. 
Glenn, General Eli K. Cole. General George W. Read, and General 
George S. Simonds. 

d. It should be understood that the organization known as the Le 
Mans Region Y. M. C. A., was intended to cover the entire bounds of 
the area known as the American Embarkation Center, and that in addi- 
tion thereto it constantly reached out to isolated and miscellaneous 
units of militarv police, of engineers, and labor battalions located far 
beyond the military bounds of the A. E. C. Approximately it served 
a monthly average of 10,()0() troops in addition to those as sliown in the 
mili'-ary strength of the American Embarkation Center. 



REGIONAL STAFF 



As of February 1, 1919 

D. W. WEIST .....Regional Director 

NELSON POE Assistant 

O. L. P'ERRIS Associate Regional Director 

MAUD McDowell KOYLE women's Bureau 

A. J. MILES Business Department 

B. A. PERKINS Educational Departnient 

CHARLES F. RICH ..Cinema Department 

MADISON COREY Entertainment Department 

A. E. MARRIOTT Athletic Department 

E. R. NORTH Religious Department 

E. N. WATKINS... Transportation Department 

H. B. MOOK Financial Department 

R. H. SKINNER Hut Construction Department 

BLANCHE C. GRA.:^T ..Hut Decoration Department 

H. W. BOWMAN..... Hut Equipment Department 

JOHN BASSETT.. ...Warehouse 



In the I.e Mans Area 



11 




REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS 
1. Entrance Court. 2. Transportation Pool. 3. Direct to Headquarters, i. Director 
at His Desk. 5. 71 Rue Clianzy Headquarters. 6. Business Office. 7. Women's Bureau 



12 History or-- the Y. M. C. A. 

REGIONAL STAFF 

As of April 1, 1919 

A. G. BOOKWALTER __ Regional Director 

NELSON POE - - issistant 

O. L. FERRIS Regional Business Director 

MAUD McDowell K0YLE.._ Women's Bureau 

C. W. ASHCRAFT.-. - Personal Department 

E. C. ALDER-- Educational Department 

CHARLES F. RICH - Cintma Department 

A. E. MARRIOTT - - ..Athletic Department 

E. R. NORTH - - - Religious Department 

R. H. SKINNER - Hid Construction Department 

BLANCHE C. GRANT Hui Decoration Department 

H. W. BOWMAN Hut Equipment Department 

J. V. WILLIAMS--- Transportation Department 

FRANK C. BURKHARDT Warehouse Department 

ALFRED STOKES - - ..Recruiting Department 

H. B. MOOK - ...Financial Department 

JESSE DODD - - Postoffice Department 

R. D. HALL - Activities Department 

T. E. LUTES...: Rolling Canteen 



REGIONAL STAFF 

As of June 1, 1919 
EXECUTIVE 



O. L. FERRIS -- ..Regional Director 

A. R. GRIZELLE Office Assistant 

HARRIET GARDINER-.- Office Assistant 

J. W. BAILEY Associate Director (Personnel) 

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 

A. E. JORDAN .....Business Director 

LUCILE P. PIKE - .......Office Assistant 



In the Le Mans Area 13 



WOMEN'S BUREAU 



MRS. MAUD McDowell KOYLE Directress 

LUCILLE COUCH Office Assistant 

EDITH ROBERTS... Office Assistant 

MILDRED F. ROGERS Office Assistant 



AREA SUPERVISORS 

Northeast Area 

C. R. HENCH Ea-ecutioe 

J. L. PUTNAM Business 

Northwest Area 

T. H. FRANCISCO ..Executive 

W. C. MOORE - Business 

Southeast Area 

P. L. EVANS ...Executive 

WM. SHEWRY Business 

Southwest Area 

H. M. BING ...Executive 

W. W. RHOADES Business 

Le Mans Depot 

A. T. MORRILL Executive 

C. B. SPEER... Business 

Forwarding Camp 

A. K. JENNINGS ...Executive 

0. G. KELLOGG Business 

Belgian Camp 

E. M. WALRATH : ...Executive 

R. W. SPARKS... Business 



DEPARTMENTS 

C. A. WILSON Army Details 

A. E. MARRIOTT Athletic 



14 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

Billeting, Baggage and Mail 

C. W. GEORGE ..Billeting, Baggage and Mail 

S. W. FRIES : Cineyna 

L. H. WATERS — - - - Educational 

MADISON COREY .Entertainment 

H. B. MOOK - Financial 

BLANCHE C. GRANT Hut Decoration 

W. E. BALES - - ...Ice Cream Factory 

W. H. COUSINS - -- - Personnel 

W. H. WARREN.. Publicity 

HELEN SINCLAIR _ Records 

ARTHUR D. HILTON... ....Religious 

T. E. LUTES Rolling Canteen 

H. O. MADDOX Salvage (Supply) 

C. C. GLEASON Mass Singing 

J. V. W7ILLIAMS Transportation 

E. W. JUDD Transportation Pool 

F. C. AGNEW ...Warehouse 



PERSONAL DISTRIBUTION 

]\Ien Women 

Le Mans Regional Office i7 44 

Le Mans Depot Division 38 110 

Le Mans Transportation 19 

Le Mans Warehouse 2 

Special Lectures 10 

Religious Department Speakers.. 28 

Entertainers 22 74 

Rolling Canteen 2 36 

Belgian Camp 13 

Forwarding Camp 14 

Northeast Area 35 10 

Northwest Area 19 13 

Southwest Area 23 23 

Southeast Area 33 19 



Total 30,> 329 

GRAND TOTAL 634 



16 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

Detail of General Expense Le Mans Region 

Dec. Jan. 

Francs Francs 

Canteen Account 8(>4(t 

Huts and Tents 

Outlay on Property used as Huts 1163 

Hut Furniture and Equipment , , 4584.90 203.5,25 

Local Expense of equippiuy and luaintaininju 

Overseas Workers 1815.50 4125 

Operation Motor Transport Service 2060 7258.14 

Division Headcj[uarters Expense 3231.10 5207.27 

Operating and Maintaining Huts 7288.36 2101.75 

Entertainment , 5130.10 3705.20 

Athletic and Physical Training, Local 271.65 678.15 

Kducational Commissions 2050.35 197.65 

Eeligious Work 47.20 63.25 

Other Association Service 345 3487.73 

Regional Hea<lquarters Expense 

^ficellaneous Expense 2474.71 

*Totals 35464.16 32507.10 

^General ex[iense for June exceeded 500,000 francs. 

Canteen Sales, December 1 to June 1 10,427,091.79 

A. E. F. Remittances, Decend^er 1 to June 1 2,014,893.52 

Free Distribution f Welfare), December 1 to June 1 1,173,618.19 



In the Le Mans Area 



December 1, 1918- May 31, 1919 



Feb. March April May Ratio in Total 

Francs Francs Francs Francs Percentage Francs 

SIO 1];!72.07 3;5201.o7 60006.9o 12. f/f ll-H):!l.Ui 

190 10622.4;^, 18+4.91 1.1 12657.34 

10Sn.;T0 3249.7.3 927-1.-10 9321.00 2.3 240<SS.7:1 

3;i2 1.7.1 2393. .So 3.50S.69 970.05 1.7 16814.49 



7472.54 

10719.58 

10294. SS 

ISIS. 70 

S172.50 

1509.55 

1459.20 

424.85 

749 



S(-:08.90 

5(;(;;!i.95 



15019.04 
2561S.41 

5(i35.84 
11568.22 
61601.51 
12431.35 

1603.90 
SI 2.20 

(i098.77 
13424.04 
13248.38 

194703.36 



10500.24 

21571.24 

7369.91 

30275.12 

S:!27S.45 

10125.05 

2797.40 

4125.30 

4387.01 

22731.12 

2837.-I0 

247827.91 



19300.90 
38641.16 

7249.05 

38C14.32 

129-136.15 

26842.32 

229S.15 
12088.12 

7991.44 
14759.40 
15329.47 

382248.78 



8.6 
11. 

3.9 

9.4 
30.4 

5.3 

1. 

1.7 

o .-> 
5.2 
4.2 



100. 



Beyiiiiiing June 1 all the Canteen Service was without charge. 

X. B. — The above have been local expenditures of the Le Mans Ee^ 
no account of the large expenditures of the Paris Headquarters 
the region covering all items for personnel and material. 



58233.22 

105868.53 

38988.05 

91066.47 

291323.91 

51861.07 

10406.65 

17561.22 

23058.95 

50914.56 

42498.86 

949383.26 



ion and take 
on behalf of 



18 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 





^:>,- -\^ mW^ 




.^":i- 



In the Le Mans Area 19 



SECTION II 



FORWARDING CAMP PERSONNEL 

A. K. JENNINGS Camp Secretary 

O. G. KELLOGG Business Secretary 

CHARLES O. PATE Activities Director 

L. G. HAYES : Religious Secretary 

THOMAS W. BAKER Financial Secretary 

J. R. ANDERSON Athletic Society 

HENRY T. BROWN - Athletic Secretary 

F. G. BALMOND Musical Director 

C. F. FRALEY. Athletic Secretary 

L. S. GILHAM Athletic Secretary 

HERBERT H. OREM Hut Secretary, Huts 3 and 4 

DAFGIN SANDVED Secretary 

R. H. D. WHITE Secretary 

R. F. WROSELL ...Secretary 

Women Canteen Workers 

MAY PEABODY Directress 

Marie Allen Helen Estee 

Frances Blackney Helen S. Green 

Lucile Butts Amy Greene 

Constance Crawford Mrs. Kate Greenlaw 

Caroline Emerson Mrs. Katherine Grinnell 

Hazerl Ohmert Marian Scott 

Elma C. Pratt Mrs. Emma Singleton 

Jane Rowson Olive Wliiley 

Marian Seely Elizabeth H. Wood 



20 History of the Y. M. C. A. 



FORWARDING CAMP 




N EXACT quotation from the Junior Post Chaplain of 
Forwarding Camp will explain wli}' the history of the 
Y. M. C. A. activities in this camp can be written 
only in parallel with that of the operations of 
the Government. 



"The Y. M. C. A. made every human effort to keep abreast of each 
I'tridc made by the Government in the erection of this tremendous feat 
of Armv operations — the Forwarding Camp. If one wonders why 
tlierp seems a minimum of showing of Y. M. C. A. operations during 
tlie months of October, November and December of 1918, that one 
must remember that the Government was housing its thousands of men 
on the rush to the front in their own pup tents. This was indicative 
of one or both of two conditions ; supplies for permanent buildings 
could ]iot be Ji-id; ov the Government did not yet realize that the For- 
warding Camp 1 'ould be a permanent institution of tlie war, mucli 
less thai it would eventually grow into the big-gest and busiest camp 
in France. 

"And one must remember also that those were days of doing, and 
not of keeping records. Personnel was scarce, the needs were over- 
whelming, and the Y. M. C. A. was given a Q. M. job without Q. M. 
transportation. The services rendered by the Y. ]\I. C. A., the difficul- 
ties surmounted, the ingenuity, determination, and untiring energy 
displayed by tlie secretaries in their efforts to function to the needs of 
thousands of troops that were constantly being rushed through the 
P'orwarding Camp, is another one of the stories of the war that cannot 
be written. Tremendous as were the operations of the Government at 
the Forwarding Camp, the Y. M. C. A. kept abreast of them!" 

Undoubtedly the work done by the Y. M. C. A. in its struggles to 
keep alongside of the gigantic wheels of the Government's machinery 
at the Forwarding Camp is best indexed by the time of erection and 
the story of its five biggest huts, and its hangar. 

Hut No. 1, "Hurrah Hut," was erected in early October, of 1918. 
Its dimensions were 65x185 feet. From October to January, this hut 
was the only place of congregation or recreation within the reach of 
the thousands of men who went to make up the great machinery which 
constituted the Forwarding Camp. It was the only refuge from the 
rain and the sleet outside or the uncomfortable mud which was the 
floor to their pup tents. Its few benches offered the only relief from 
the eternal standing, and its stoves the only place for a bit of warmth. 



In the Le Mans Area 21 

A dry canteen was in operation from the beginning, and the long 
lines of men waiting for smokes were literally endless. Three times a 
week there were movies and on the other nights there were soldier talent 
shows inspired and directed by Y. M. C. A. secretaries. To accommo- 
date the great crowds of men eager for some snatch of entertainment 
before they should leave for their long stay in the trenches, the very 
partitions had to be removed at times to acconnnodate the mass of 
khaki-clad bodies that positively swayed with the movements among 
them. All available seats were always filled hours before the start of 
the performance, the men sitting patiently missing their suppers in 
order to hold a seat for the performance. 

As the other huts were gradually erected, this first one took on more 
and more an air of individuality of its own as the headquarters hut of 
the camp. But its hospitable doors were always open, to the very 
end of the life of the A. E. F., to thousands of soldier boys, who seemed 
to find this hut a favorite loitering place. And these same doors, humbly 
swinging on their crude hinges, hastily constructed by strong, quick 
hands of young Americans who knew or thought little of the fine arts 
of old, deserve to be classed, when Time shall have given its correc- 
tive perspective of the things worth while in this war, with the doors 
of the proud old cathedral which has reared its majestic mass on the 
heights of Le Mans for nearly seven hundred years. There were times 
when the doors of Harrah Hut offered the only sanctuary to thousands 
of crusaders who had crossed seas to a foreign land to fight in a cause 
that was holy. 

Hut No. 2 (7.'>xl5() feet) was built in January of 1919, when nearly 
30,000 troops swarmed over the camp — mostly Ninety-first and Ninety- 
second Divisions. The situation of this hut, across the camp from 
Harrah Hut, made it particularly useful. 

As the military authorities formed their plans of a permanent camp 
to be used for the concentration and forwarding of troops to the 
coast instead of to the front. General Logan came to a decision that in 
the center of the camp there should be a big welfare area, containing 
buildings of all the Welfare Associations. 

"Georgia Flut," the Auditorium, and later a huge hangar, were the 
Y. M. C. A. contribution to this block. 

Georgia Hut (45x150 feet) with the usual wet and dry canteen, 
library, stage, piano, "mother's corner," etc., functioned to an average 
of 3000 men daily from January to July. 

The Auditorium in the Welfare Area of Forwarding CamiJ had one 
of the largest and best appointed stages in France. The seating 
capacity of the house was 200u, and only a sardine could judge its 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 




FORWARDING CAMP CENTERS 

Chocolate and Doughnuts. 2. A Typical Canteen Line. 3. Hearthside Hut No. 1. 
4. "Y" Swimming Pool. 5. Bulletin Boards. G. Officers' Club. 7. Hut 
Interior Showing Stage. 8. New Mexico Hut Exterior 



In the Le Mans Area 23 

standing capacity. During ^Nlarcli and April and May, matinees and 
evening performances of vaudeville, soldier shows, movies, etc., were a 
d lily occurrence. The size of the stage brought the best shows on the 
A. E. F. circuit in France to Forwarding Camp, and a conservative 
estimate of the number of men who witnessed performances in this 
historic playhouse is something like 450,000 men. 

In May the hangar (125x125 feet) was opened up for movies and 
enlisted men's dances. The entertainment department of the Y. M. 
C. A. and of the Army, working in close conjunction, booked from the 
Y. M. C. A. circuit out of Le Mans 236 vaudevilles and 284 movies, 
nine-tenths of which were shown in either the hangar or the Auditorium 
of the Wielfare Center. 

TWENTY-EIGHTH DIVISION 

ARTHUR V. TURNEY.. Division Secretary 

GEO. J. BARNES ...Business Secretary 

GEO. N. HOPKINS __... Accountant 

ARTHUR DEVERE HUBBARD Cashier 

JOHN G. PERCY Entertainment Director 

ARTHUR B. WHEATLEY Athletic Director 

E. B. WOODS Educational Director 

W. B. J. PRETTYMAN Secretary 

NORMAN BROUGH... Secretary 

J. C. MAGGARGLE... Secretary 

HERSCHEL HORN.. _ Secretary 

CHAS.W.CREW Secretary 

JAMES A. LEE ; Secretary 

C. C. HALDMAN Secretary 

FRANK P. HAYS Secretary 

FRED W. BEAI Secretary 

CHAS. DARSIE. Secretary 

JOHN W. CRENSHAW S,ecretary 

WM. L. COURTRIGHT Secretary 

A. S. GOODRICH Secretary 

Women Canteen Workers 

Harriet McKenzie Margaret Robinson 

Katherine Parks Dorothy Berry 

Gertrude Garden Janet Kunz 

Pauline Brown Kitty Kunz 

Mary Waddcn Katherine Beakes 

Dora Lewis Mrs. Cora C. Kennedy 



24 History of the Y. M. C. A. 




Hut No. 5 "Keystone Hut," was built by the volunteer service of the 
Twenty-eighth Division — hence its name, from the State of Pennsyl- 
vania. In the month of February it became known over the camp that 
materials were on hand for the erection of a new hut. The place de- 
cided upon was within the closely walled jurisdiction of a certain Army 
tyrant, known as the delousing plant. Some indications of the interest 
which the men took in the erection of the new hut on its unpopular 
site may be gathered from the fact that so many men volunteered 
their services that the hut was erected in the world record time of ITVi: 
hours. Its dimensions are 15x150 feet. The Regional Decorator took 
particular pains that its walls were attractive and its furniture and 
decorations pleasing and inviting. 

It was to the area of the delousing plant that the men must go first 
on their return from the front, and they must remain there for a 
period of from three to ten days — from which there was no outlet or 
respite. Since Friend Cootie is no respector of persons, an officers' 
reading room and club room adjoined the main assembly hall. Many 
a soldier and officer gratefully expressed his appreciation for the big 
Keystone Hut in such words as "It certainly is an oasis in this desert" 
and "It surely has saved our lives." 

Wet and dry canteens were in operation from the first, with two "Y" 
girls and a "Y" man behind the counter. 

Officers' Club — Close to Harrah Hut there is a very attractive offi- 
cers' club and reading room which proved very popular. 

Religious Work 

FROM the very first establishment of Forwarding Camp, the De- 
partment of Religious Work for the Y. M. C. A. has been one of 
the camp's organized and recognized activities. Everything was done 
to dedicate the huts and equipment of the "Y" service to a recognition 
of practical religion. No suggestion of sectarian interest or differences 
was tolerated, and at all times and to all services all men were equall}^ 
welcome. The cordial recognition of this principle on the part of the 



In the Le Mans Area 2a 

camp authorities put the work of the Y. M. C. A. on the broad plane 
necessary for the accomplishment of its aims. 

Among the outstanding features of the Y. M. C. A. religious service 
was the following: 

Music: Under gifted select leaders supplied with abundant 
equipment of books and pianos the men were led in wholesome and 
inspiring songs, humorous, patriotic and religious. 

Regular Sunday and mid-week programs : On one night of 
every week in each building religious meetings were announced and put 
through, usually with a definite appeal for personal and moral devo- 
tion. In addition to the secretaries of the respective huts, there were 
from six to ten camp secretaries engaged in religious work all the time. 

Sunday Schools at 9:30 a. m., after the American fashion, supple- 
mented the morning and evening mee;:ings, and the Holy Communion 
was administered in an entirely non-sectarian way once a month. 

The Chaplains, both of the moving and permanent personnel, were 
used continually, nearly half the meetings addressed being served by 
them. At any time in any building the Catholic or Jewisli men or 
ministers were cordiall}^ welcomed to conduct their separate offices of 
worship and until each had been su2Jplied with a iniilding for their own 
use the privilege was often used. 

The Literature: It would be impossible accurately to estimate the 
value and volume of the service to the men in magazines, song books, 
brocures, books and parts, such as songs. Gospels, the most scientific 
and attractive hygiene literature and the like. In addition to the con- 
stant service of the various reading roo.ns incorporated in each build- 
ing, twice or more each week supplies of reading matter of the most 
select and rational type were distributed to the centers of the camp 
organization ; and when enough matter could be obtained, outgoing 
trains were furnished. 

The attendance through the winter and spring taxed the capacity of 
the buildings ; and even with the long evenings of the summer and tlie 
lure of the outdoor sports the attendance was good. 

Athletics 

WITH the advent of March and good weather athletics opened up 
at Forwarding Camp with a swing and zest commensurate 
with the impatience of the men at their long confinement to inade- 
quate quarters. Plans were laid and executed with the unbelievable 
speed characteristic of Forwarding Camp. Baseball diamonds ap- 
peared in every available spot and the number of games in one day in 
the camp sometimes numbered 31. Every conceivable form of outdoor 
game was instituted — basketVall, boxing in the huge arena where the 



26 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

bouts could be reviewed by 25,000 men, football, soccer, volley ball, 
wrestling, tennis, track and in time the good old swimming hole, 
for which the "Y" supplied swimming suits all day long. It is esti- 
mated that the number of men participating in games at Forwarding 
Camp in the months of May and June reached the half -million mark. 

Banking System 

ONE of the services for which the men of the A. E. F. en route 
home were the most grateful to the Y. M. C. A. organization of 
the Forwarding Camp was its assistance to them in getting checks, 
postoffice orders, and other forms of redeemable notes cashed. The 
matter of the medium of exchange is a difficult one to any traveler in a 
foreign country; the A. E. F. did not always find the cashing of checks 
and the sending of money home easy, even when their organization 
was stationary. Hence, one may begin to appreciate what it meant to 
soldiers traveling, unable to take steps on their own initiative, in a 
country whose currency value fluctuated with the revolution of the 
Peace Conference, to find the well-organized banking system, such as 
instituted and maintained at the Forwarding Camp for the service of 
the transient soldier. 

Some of the cases which the Y. M. C. A. banking system met were: 
Men in camp frequently could not get to town. The department often 
transmitted telegrams from the camp for them through the French 
postoffice, both in the matter of sending messages home and of writing 
home for money. 

Many small French towns use their own currency, which other towns 
refuse to accept. Often the American soldier found himself obliged to 
accept such currency, only to find when he began his journey to the 
coast that his money was no good for town shopping, and was not 
even acceptable to the Government sales commissary. The Forwarding 
Camp "bank" redeemed such bills, sent them back to the banks of their 
native area, and so rendered a valuable piece of service to the soldier. 

When the camp was first built, the Y. M. C. A. was the only place 
in camp where a P. O. money order could be cashed, and it was a long 
time afterwards that the Le Mans postoffice arranged for cashing 
orders at the camp, and even after the institution of the branch post- 
office men wanting to cash a postoffice order were compelled to wait 
their turn in the interminable soldier line. Soldiers sometimes stood in 
line two hours and were then shut out by the closing of the clerk's 
window before they reached their turn. The postoffice was open only 
during short periods each day, whereas the "Y" bank was practically 
always open. The policy of the Y. M. C. A. was not to cash money 



In the Le Mans Area - 27 

orders that were more than 60 days old, but the department did the 
holder of such a note the service of cashing the order at the postoffice 
window. 

Men often had drafts from American to French banks. The only 
means they had of turning such drafts into money was through the 
Y. M. C. A., for two reasons; men in camps like Forwarding had no 
access to any bank, either French or American, unless they were 
lucky enough to obtain a pass to some good-sized town in the region; 
and when they were able to reach a French bank, frequently they 
couldn't get ready money on their drafts, since French banks would 
receive same only for collection. This is also true of American cashier's 
checks. Thus, had it not been for the bank established by the Y. M. C 
A. at the Forwarding Camp, the thousands of transient troops a day 
would have had no way to receive French money for their orders and 
checks. It is also customary for the French banks to make a collec- 
tion charge upon such checks as they do cash. The "Y" bank paid the 
soldiers the full amount of his check. 

The big sums of money on hand enabled the department to be of 
assistance often to the regiments in making out payrolls when change 
could not be had from Le Mans. The same service was also rendered 
to the Commissary. 

Some statistics for the month of March, which was a usual month, 
are interesting in that they show the amount of business actually 
transacted by this "Y" bank. Two hundred thousand francs were 
turned into the Y. INI. C. A. headquarters for the month, 658,000 of 
wliich came from sales, and 63,000 checked in from incoming trains 
and dry canteens. 

A. E. F. remittances for March amounted to 182,000 francs. 

Checks and postoffice orders amounted to 200,000 francs. 

Incident to the office of this bank frequent calls were made for advice 
upon legal and financial matters. 

Emergency Work 

NEXT in importance to maintaining and operating the five huts 
and the hangar comes what may be headed "Emergency Work," 
the two most important features of which were the "R. T. O." and the 
"Forwarding Canteens." 

The R. T. O.: At the railroad transportation office, through which 
all incoming or outgoing troops must pass, is a wooden barracks of 
100x25 feet. This was equipped with chocolate boilers, and all available 
conveniences for record-speed sei*ving. Almost every day during the 
life of the Forwarding Camp long lones of weary troops were able to 




FREE WET CANTEEN SERVICE OF FORWARDING CAMP 

1. Service En Route. 2. "Allez Tout de Suite." 3. Entraining; Station. 4. A real Picnic. 

.T. Frencli Kiddies After the Leavings, (i. Get 'em Coming and Going. 7. All 

Set and Ready. S. Hot Cliocolate and Dnnglinuts 



In the Le Mans Area -9 

leave their trains and get a cup of chocolate at the R. T. O. Very 
often the number served reached ten thousand a day. The record time 
for serving was under the supervision of Miss Helen Greene, a young 
lady from the economics department of Texas State University, who 
with her detail of 21 soldiers broke all records serving hot chocolate 
to liOO soldiers in fifteen minutes. The officers remarked on the extra- 
ordinary efficiency of the detail machinery; not a buddie ever seemed to 
get in another's way. The commanding colonel (it was the Eighty-fifth 
Division being served) remarked, "That is the finest piece of work I 
have seen in France." All of the stuff served at the R. T. O. was at 
the expense of the Y. M. C. A. 

The Forwarding Canteens 

IXCE LE MANS area was the great concentration point 
of all troops returning to the States through Brest, it was 
to the Forwarding Camp that fell the greatest period of congestion 
at the time that the leases of the French towns back in winter quarters 
were expiring, and the delay in the signing of the armistice was hold- 
ing troops who were already filling Brest to overflowing. This con- 
gestion necessitated unloading hundreds of organizations and march- 
ing tliem out to various towns in the Le Mans area pending further 
international developments. The French laws specifying only certain 
points of entraining and detraining made the hikes for the men much 
harder and longer than would have been necessary for the same pur- 
pose on our own territory. Hence the weary, dusty men marching 
under full pack in the summer heat offered an opportunity for service 
that the Y. ]\L C. A. was quick to seize upon. An outline of plans to 
the proper authorities quickly brought the cooperation of the officers 
in command of the routes and time of the marches ; and two or three 
hours before a certain big "milk-shake barrage" saw a whirlwind 
flying around of blue-aproned "Y" girls and khakied soldier-details, 
the rattle of "beaucoup" G. I. cans, and the heaving of numerous heavy 
boxes into Y. M. C. A. trucks. 

For the plan conceived and executed to perfection past expectation 
was no less than to meet the troops at some spot about half-way their 
march, and as they filed by, to serve them with lemonade or milk-shake 
and cakes in such a systematic way that their rank was not broken, and 
very little, if any, time was lost. This meant a big preparation. To 
serve a regiment, or about three thousand men, four girls, with a 
detail of eight soldiers, and three or four Y. M. C. A. men left the 
Forwarding Camp with two camionettes, and two heav^^ trucks loaded 
with supplies. The question of water is always a big one in France. 
Permission must be obtained for a place to get the water, and for a 



30 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

place to make the beverage and then for a place on the road to serve 
it; for France is verily a land of "Permissionaires." Often the cans 
of the finished product must be hauled for kilos, owing to these condi- 
tions; but even then, the result is more successful than for the liquid 
to be carried all the way from the kitchens of Forwarding Camp. Four 
big vats of the cold drink (it was really iced) were set across the road 
in such a manner that as the troops filed by four abreast (marching 
formation) each man pauses long enough to get his mess cup or his 
canteen filled: the formation was not broken. If the officers chose to 
allow the men to loiter along to drink, they could easily do so with 
little resulting disorder. The cakes were handed out a little further 
along in the same orderly manner. It would be hard to describe the 
gratitude of the hot, thirsty men. As one soldier expressed it, "To meet 
four smiling, joking American girls standing in the middle of the 
road of march ready to meet you more than half way with gallons and 
gallons of ice-cold drink that they had made all for you, was one of 
the few things that could make hikes in May and June easy." 

A "barrage" for a regiment consists of about four hundred gallons 
of lemonade or milk-shake, and three dozen crates of cakes. Often 
from Forwarding Camp, as many as three such "barrages" have been 
put over in one day, and not a day passed in May or June without at 
least one "barrage." 

The actual figures for "Welfare" — the "Y" term for stuff given 
away — for emergency work at Forwarding, show a total of 12% tons 
of sugar, 43,584 cans of milk, 5575 pounds of cocoa, 1158 cases of 
cakes, with lemons, nutmeg, jam, etc., in proportion. 
Personnel of Forwarding Camp 

AS IS always true of the A. R. F. work of the Y. M. C. A. the 
strength of Forwarding Camp is neither greater nor weaker than 
the personnel of its immediate organization. Another maxim quite as 
infallible is that the strength which any given Y. M. C. A. may attain 
is no greater than the cooperation won by it from the Army Com- 
manders of the Post. 

The willingness, the self-sacrifice, the devotion of the "Y" girls at 
the busy, overworked Forwarding Camp will be one of the outstanding 
memories in the mind of the American doughboy, when time has given 
him a perspective of the high-lights and the shadows of his crucial 
exjDeriences in France. Programs pinned on the wall outlining the 
day's work for each girl, gives some idea of the usual routine of a 
"Y" girl; 9:00 to 12:00, 1:00 to 5:00, lemonade barrage for men 
marching; 8:00 to 10:00, dancing. No mere man can ever realize just 
what it means for woman's strength to hold up under such peculiar 



In the Le Mans Area 31 

physical strains as some of the work in such a day's program entailed 
and no woman who did not come over and undergo the same experiences 
can ever realize just what it meant to smile right straight through every 
minute of every hour of the day^ 30 days out of every month. It was 
the splendid doughboy who realized the heroism of the Y. M. C. A. 
girl more than anybody else ever has, and it is he who is most generous 
in his praise of her devotion. And at no place in France has her work 
been harder or more strenuous or less satisfying, because she could not 
learn to know the men personally, (since troops were ever moving in 
and out) than in the Le Mans area. It will take '.he doughboy at home 
to tell the real story of the girls of the Forwarding Camp. 

Soldier Detail 

NO STORY of Y. M. C. A. activities in France could be justly 
written Avithout a glowing tribute to the "soldier detail." Ever}^ 
secretarj^, man or woman, feels that praise too high cannot be given to 
the splendid fellows who, in the first place, were willing to be detailed 
to "Y" service when they knew that the work was heavy and dirty, 
that the hours were long and strenuous and the responsibility much 
more than thej'' would have borne had they remained with their organi- 
zations. They never complained at any duty nor any emergency; they 
entered into the spirit of "helping the buddies out" for eats and smokes 
and "dope to read" in a manner strongly indicative of the way this war 
was won. Especially will every "Y" girl who came to France bear 
in her heart forever a tender memory of thoughtfulness, willingness, 
the surprising ingenuity, and the unfailing humor of her "soldier 
detail." 

At Forwarding Camp the soldier-detail numbered 185 men. At their 
head and as right-hand man to the Business Secretary, was Sergeant 
Earl Furstenberg of Wisconsin. He was sent to Forwarding in Decem- 
ber, and spring found him with the key to every wire over the hum- 
ming Y. M. C A. activities at his finger tips. As Forwarding Camp 
grew and the Y. M. C. A. grew, "Fursty" grew a bit ahead always. He 
has proven one of the busiest and perhaps the most valuable "secre- 
taries" in France. Playing left-bower to the Business Secretary was 
Sergeant Schutte, who handled the busy "bank" counter of the "Y." 

Much of the credit for the success of entertainment in I'orward- 
ing Camp belongs to Sergeant Frank Novak, for months the real 
"Entertainment Officer" at Forwarding Camp. 



32 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

BELGIAN CAMP PERSONNEL 

E. M. WALRATH Camp Secretary 

R. W. SPARKS Entertainment Secretary 

F. F. BUTZ Financial Secretary 

RALPH C. WATSON... Camp Hospital Secretary 

ROLAND BATSON ...Athletic Director 

ROSS J. NICHOLS Assistant Athletic Director 

DAVID A. SLOAN Athletics 

H. W. HYDE .....Athletics 

R. H. LEACH.... Secretary 

RAY WATERS... ......:...... S.ecretary 

J. C. RUGG - Secretary 

ALBERT J. CLARK Secretary 

Women Canteen Workers 

^Nlr.s. Vida 'iidntx, Directress Miss Alice Logan 

Miss Martha Allen Miss Sallie Massey 

Miss Llelen Bradley Miss Alice Reeve 

Miss Flora Creech Miss Helen Spear 

Miss Audrey Gernon Miss Marjorie Tompkins 

HE BELGIAN CAMP, or Camp d'Auvours, was taken 
over from the Belgians for the specific purpose of hold- 
ing as casuals and forwarding Army Candidate School 
men to the front. CamjJ d'Auvours was the military 
name under the French administration, the camp taking 
the name Belgian during the recent war. As the loss of Second Lieu- 
tenants in the trenches was always fearfully heavy, A. C. S. men 
from all the schools in P'rance were concentrated at one Post — Belgian 
Camp — to await assignments to the front. Usually their stay at this 
camp was short enough, but the first of November of 1918 found some 
5000 of them congested there — eager lads to whom the signing of the 
Armistice came as a disappointment. The fear that they would never 
receive their commissions, to which they already held certificates, grew 
to a certainty after November 11, and Belgian Camp was not a happy 
jjlace. 

The first "Y" operations began five davs after the opening of the 
camp by Americans. The first canteen was in the old Belgian welfare 
house, and the Belgian theatre was bought outright by the "Y." All 
entertainments were free, of course, until one night a "Y" tragedy 
happened. The Army borrowed the theatre for a boxing bout to which 




In the Le Mans Area 33 

soldiers were charged one franc admission. The Captain in charge for- 
got to make the promised announcement that the bout was given by the 
Army and not by the "Y." Indignation ran riot. The men ahnost tore 
down the building. Belated explanations did not seem to help, and for 
weeks the unhappiness at Belgian Camp was not at all mitigated by 
the presence of the Y. M. C. A. 

The A. S. C. men were classed as men on special service by the 
Army — which meant a delay of pay-checks and a miscarrying of mail. 
The few letters that did filter through from the States, and most of the 
newspapers, were filled with stories of the "flu" epidemic in America; 
and where letters could not penetrate, fatal cablegrams often brought 
news of the death of loved ones and comrades' loved ones at home. 

Christmas Eve brought Mrs. Vida C. Sidney of New York and Miss 
Esther Hatch of Philadelphia to Belgian Camp. The arrival of these 
"Y" women was indeed a Christmas gift to the men. The few Christ- 
mas tree trimmings in their suitcases were brought out and perhaps a 
hundred men were induced to take some interest in the setting up and 
decorating of a tree for the refugee children of the neighborhood. 
Christmas packages were distributed by the "Y" to everj- soldier in 
camp, even to those in the guardhouse, and before the holiday week 
was over nearly every man had at some time examined the Christmas 
tree and every trinket and tinsel which made it shine. 

The old Belgian canteen in which the "Y" was situated was an 
interior, low-ceiled room of a heavy, clumsy old stone building. On 
its rough walls some artist or perhaps artists had sketched with skill- 
ful hand, but crude materials, events of the war, drinking scenes, por- 
trayal of patriotism of the Belgian homes, the shield of Albert and 
Elizabeth, placards done with such inscriptions as: 

OOST WEST 
T' HU IS BEST 

Always inadequate in size for the great numbers of men in camp, 
the small room was ever filled to overflowing. The buddies used to wait 
in lines extending out in the sleet and mud outside for their turn at 
the chocolate counter. On dark, rainly nights this unque canteen, filled 
with silent, moving bodies of men, the dim candles flickering on the 
faces of the two "Y" women standing behind the chocolate urn and at 
the other end on the faces of the soldier detail as they gave out the 
smokes, formed a Rembrandt picture that is one of the anachronisms 
of this war. 

Gradually the two women and the faithfulness of the men secre- 
taries were winning the confidence of the commissioned sergeants at 



34 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

Belgian. Their baffling, abrupt way of flinging over the chocolate 
spigot such remarks as "You know I told you about that letter last 
month that my wife bad the "flu." Got another one today — She's 
dead;" gradually changed to personal interviews where more of the 
aching heart was revealed and more sympathy permitted. When three 
soft-shelled abri tents were erected out in the open mud to help out 
the Belgian canteen, it was the men who sought out lumber and laid a 
snug if rough floor, w'ho made and painted tables and benches, and who 
very determinedly took the paint brushes from the hands of the "Y" 
girls and painted the billowing, wavering walls of the tent a glowing 
brick and green. It was the men who voted upon and chose the color 
of the bright curtains and lanap shades — and they tabooed yellow 
because yellow was not becoming to Miss Hatch's complexion. 

The old theatre of Belgian Camp should be ranked among the his- 
toric playhouses of the American people. The huge old barn-like 
structure has been packed hundreds of times with khaki-clad lads 
who were of the very pulse of our nation's heart — whom we were 
laying as Jacob of old, upon the altar of sacrifice. For a period of 
nearly five months, the old theatre was the only place of amusement 
for thousands of such men; indeed, it was the only place of recreation 
and almost the only place of actual shelter possible for them to reach. 

The stage was good, the scenery was of crude tints, painted upon 
coarse tarpaulin, and the lights, poor as they were, were the treasures 
of their surroundings. Down under the stage was a cellar which was 
fitted into a costume factory. An interior decorator by profession was 
the costume designer, and the soldiers themselves the seamstresses. 
Their big, heavy fingers that could pull the trigger with such disastrous 
disturbance to an Emperor's sleep were now arduously bent to the task 
of sewing plaits in a dancing girl's frock or in whipping snowy lace 
on a frothy petticoat. The actors wrote their own plays, of necessity, 
and the performances were frequent and the audiences huge and en- 
thusiastic. Often when one of the "Y" girls had been detained behind 
the chocolate urn during the performance of a new "creation," the 
whole show was given over for her benefit when she could come in, and 
the men saw it all over — this time through her eyes. 

Much distress was in Belgian Camp because there was not an Ameri- 
can flag. The first one secured was draped about a shield and hung 
over the center of the stage. Later there came a time when many, 
many flags made the old barn-like theatre look like a difl^erent place; 
and still later, when a new hangar with fine equipment and stage ap- 



In the Le Mans Area 35 

pointments came to replace the old Belgian theatre for the big shows; 
but to those who lived at this camp during the dreary Winter months, 
the old playhouse will ever hold a tender place in memory's picture 
gallery. 

February brought the men pay-checks, and better news from the 
States and, best of all, orders to go home; and Belgian Camp became 
thenceforth a forwarding camp for small units of disintegrated divi- 
sions on their way to the coast. Portions, usually the engineers, of the 
27th, 30th, 35th, 80th, 85th and 91st Divisions passed through Belgian 
Camp, besides the S. O. S. troops in June and July and those of the 
Rifle Meets. 



* -X- * * * 



In bright contrast to the deadly, discouraging days when the lone 
Belgian canteen and theatre were the only places iFor one spark of 
cheer or reminder of home in all Belgian Camp, one might throw the 
spotlight on the gay scenes at Belgian during the A. E. F. rifle contest 
of May, or still better, on the Inter- Allied competitions of June. 

Sunshine is always an ally in France; the cool shade of the green 
young forest that is the natural setting of Camp d'Auvours gave the 
place almost the air of a summer camp in the woods. Scattered at 
various points of vantage over the now modernly equipped camp, were 
three fine new huts, ranking in size, equipment, and attractiveness 
among the very best in France. A well organized machinery of relig- 
ious department, athletic department, sing-songs, banking, rolling 
canteen, women's department, with local barracks for the "Y" girls 
etc., brought the Y. M. C. A. up to standard which made satisfactorv 
functioning to the needs of the officers and men at least a possibility. " 

The regular-sized hangar built by the "Y" in the spring for athletic 
contests had been doubled in size by the Army, and a stage 
with excellent scenery and a lighting system of some 250 bulbs made 
this playhouse the biggest and best equipped in France. Naturally it 
brought the Belgian Camp the best show talent in the A E F " An 
attractive officers' club, built in rustic style almost to the effect of a 
hunting lodge, was the lure with which the "Y" attempted to hold the 
hundreds of young officers held in France for the shoots, at the camp 
during the evenings. Dances two or three evenings during each week 
witfi the 'Y" girls of the camp and from various other points in the 
Le Mans area as dancing partners, together with golf courses and 
tennis courts built by the Army, the horseback riding, and the 
shooting, converted Belgian Camp into a veritable leave area. A huge 



36 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 




BELGIAN CAMP CENTERS 

1. Canteen Indiana Hut. 2. Veranda Officers' Club. 3 and 4. Blue Ridge Hut, Interiors. 
5. Old Belg:ian Hut. (!. Interior Officers' Club 



In the Le Mans Area 



.'37 



tent was erected for the Inter- Allied enlisted aien, and especial at- 
tempts were made to feature the native customs of the visitors, such as 
serving hot tea in the afternoons to the Canadians, Australians, and 
English, etc. Frequent dances were arranged for the enlisted men, with 
the American soldiers as hosts and English and American girls as danc- 
ing partners. 

The Army recognized the fact that it was in the power of the Y. 
M. C. A. to create much of the international feeling of goodwill be- 
tween the men of many nations who had gathered at a precarious time 
for a celebrated sport contest at an American camp on French soil. 
Every Y. M. C. A. secretary at Belgian Camp and every girl in the 
area caught the spirit of spreading the propaganda of goodwill, and 
did his or her utmost to make a social success of this historic parting 
sport-pageant of the A. E. F. 

The huts erected in the spring at Belgian Camp were "Blue Ridge," 
"Indiana," "Convalescent Hut and Tent," "Library Tent," "Class 
Tent," "Officers' Club," "Welfare Hangar," "Theatre Hangar," and 
"Athletic House," quite a showing indeed for our spotlight, but one's 
appreciation instinctively turns back — back before even the time of 
Camp d'Auvours, when this same spot saw the first experiments on 
French soil of Wilbur Wright with his monoplane; back to the three 
weary years of Belgian expatriation and heroic struggles ; back to the 
drab, monotonous days when the impatient Yanks chafed at the re- 
straint which held them like idle village dullards when their fiery 
spirits were tugging at the leash ; and one instinctivel}^ throws the 
searchlight back for one last lingering look at the old Belgian canteen 
and theatre — historic relics on a historic spot. 






38 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

DEPOT DIVISION PERSONNEL 

As OF June 1 

A. T. MORRILL Area Supervisor 

C. B. SPEER.. - Business Secretary 

A. E. TAYLOR Financial Secretary 

M. E. NELLUMS Accountant 

H. W. GIBSON Activities Secretary 

JAMES CLARK ....Athletic Secretary 

J. C. BLACK 1.. Assistant Athletic Secretary 

The ten units comprising the Depot Division are those which follow 
here in order, all being situated in or close to the city of Le Mans. 

C. B. FISH ....Classification Camp 

P. H. LIKES..- - ...Camp Etat 

O. J. HICKS -..- .-- -- Salvage Camp 

HAROLD ROBERTS .- Pariqme UEveque 

GEORGE W. FARR _-..____ Spur Camp 

M. R. WILLIAMS Overhaul Park 

MRS. G. M. WARDEN ...Yorh Harbor Hut 

J. L. TAIT Central Hut 

W. W. WEBER Kansas Hut 

AGNES LATIMER BACON... Library 







In the Le Mans Area 39 

CLASSIFICATION CAMP PERSONNEL 

CHARLES B. FISH Camp Secretary 

CHARLES I. RAMSEY __ ..Religious Secretary 

CHARLES A. CANT WELL Athletic Secretary 

MRS. JOHN R. STERLING Hut Mother 

MISS S. THEODORE CURTIS Canteen 

MISS ETHEL RICE Canteen 

OTABLE AMONG the several large Army camps in 
the Le Mans area was the Classification Camp^ where as 
many as 16,000 men were quartered at one time. The 
camp occupied the Chanzy Barracks, which were erected 
in 1879, and used by the French Government for train- 
ing recruits. The Barracks derived the name from General Chanzy, a 
French General of the Franco-Prussian war, who commanded the 
Army of the Loire and defended Le Mans against the Prussians. 

The camp is really a group of imposing stone buildings surrounded 
by a high stone wall, entrance being gained to a large courtyard 
through a wide double gateway which faces the terminus of Rue 
Gambetta. The gateway is flanked by two sentry boxes built when the 
Barracks were occupied by the French. The purpose to which the U. 
S. Army put the camp was to re-outfit and re-classify replacements 
arriving from the states. At a later period hospital evacuates and all 
classes of casuals, from every area in France, came to the camp for 
outfitting and classification. Y. M. C. A. activities in this camp began 
about the middle of August, 1918, and during the first few months were 
carried on in one of the older Army Barracks, the chief business being 
in those days to exchange the good old American dollar and the English 
jDOund and shilling into more convenient francs. 

During November it rained continuously and mud was plentiful. 
The number of men in camp so far exceeded the billeting capacity of 
the Barracks that it became necessary for thousands of men to sleep 
in pup tents which rested upon and on what later became known as the 
best equipped athletic park in the entire area. To add to the com- 
fort of the men the "Y" kept its door open day and night, affording 
the boys who were on their way to the front the privilege of sleeping 
under a roof. 

Meantime it was decided to erect a regular "Y" hut, which was form- 
ally dedicated on Thanksgiving Day. In an address on that occasion 
by Colonel McAbee, then in command of the camp, he stated that dur- 
ing the first fifteen days of November, 60,000 soldiers went through 



W History of the Y. M. C. A. 

the mill of this camp. Possibly through no other center in this area 
have representatives of so many diiferent outfits passed. The camp 
became known as "The Mad House," by the boys and it was the 
mission of the Y. M. C. A. to pierce the gloom that this conception of 
life naturally caused the doughboy who spent several weeks and, in 
some instances, several months within the walls of these somber stone 
buildings. It became necessary very often for the men to eat their 
mess in the rain while standing ankle deep in thick black mud. Many a 
boy- — yes, a good many of them — were heard to say that had it not 
been for the Y. M. C. A. at the Classification Camp they would 
surely have gone mad. 

Welfare Work 

ESPECIAL attention was paid to Welfare service both night and 
da}--. An illustration of the efficiency of this work and how it was 
received by the men is found in the following: Ten thousand cones 
of the most delicious ice cream cones ever made were distributed to 
ten thousand doughboys during the S. O. S. athletic meet at the Classi- 
fication Camp, May 3-4, by the "Y." Along with the cream was 
handed out to each man a generous sandwich of ham, or egg, or cheese 
filling, according to taste, a steaming-hot cup of the best American 
coiFee and a newspaper fresh from the Paris press. The line in front 
of the "Y" hut was formed fully an hour before the young women of 
the canteen staff began to serve and for hours there were lines waiting 
eagerly though patiently. The cream was brought from Paris in two 
big convoy trucks, the drivers traveling all night, so that the material 
might arrive in time. 

Athletics 

THE FACT that there was a large field in connection with the 
camp buildings made it possible for the Y. M. C. A. to lay out 
and equip at the suggestion of the Army, one of the finest athletic fields 
in this section of France. The best engineers and athletic directors in 
the "Y" organization were put to work and within an incredibly short 
time cinder paths were laid out, a quarter-mile track built and grand- 
stands with a capacity of many thousands erected. All this had to be 
accomplished during a period of almost constant rain and when the 
ground was thick with black oozy mud, ankle deep. 

Y. M. C. A. Hut Mother 

PROBABLY the first American woman in France who decided to 
make Welfare Service in the Y. M. C. A. her work for the re- 



In the Le Mans Area 



41 




42 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

mainder of her life is Mrs. John R. Sterling of La Grange^ Ga., who 
was mother to the boys who came to the Classification Camp. Mrs. 
Sterling had a very attractive room in the big "Y" hut and as the men 
flocked in she conversed with them about almost every subject under 
the sun^ from farming to philosophy and from mechanics to political 
economy. An endless stream of questions were asked her by soldier 
boys representing every shade of opinion and belief in the world. 
Conversation went on as the Mother sewed on chevrons, service stripes 
and insignias, and mended rents and tears. 

The big hut assembly hall was crowded with men all day long and 
late into the evening. They sat. at long tables writing letters home and 
around the tables in the big cool library where over one thousand books 
and stacks of magazines were at hand. The men flocked in and called 
for the physical director who had an unfailing supply of baseballs, 
bats, and other athletic goods, to say nothing of the whole-hearted 
understanding of the feelings of the men and a fine ability to help 
them in an all around way and kept him busy. 

"Gee, but this looks good to me," ejaculated a doughboy whose 
skin matched the color of his uniform. "Don't know what the fellows 
would do without the "Y" around here." "Say, Buck, where is Jimmy 
this afternoon?" asks another man. "Jimmy .^ Oh he is probably hang- 
ing around the 'Y' hut, if he isn't in the office jawing with Dad; you 
may find him talking with the girl in the library, or maybe borrowing 
a baseball from the athletic director. I don't know but he is having 
'Mother' sew on a button." And, of course, that is what the 'Y' workers 
were there for. 

Here is an account of an actual occurrence: A red-faced doughboy 
walked into Mother Sterling's room one day and cooly said: "Say, 
Mother, I'd like for 3'-ou to lend me fifteen francs. When a fellow's 
in the Army he's just obliged to gamble. I don't suppose you believe 
that, but it is so any how. I haven't a cent — I've come to borrow some 
to begin with." This is where the "Mother" failed him, and she told 
him why she couldn't lend him money to gamble. 

Life never became stale at the Classification Camp "Y" Hut. Comedy 
also played its part dail}^, when a true sense of humor saved many a 
situation that otherwise might have become embarrassing or perhaps 
unhappy. Although the Y. M. C. A. put over a great big work with 
this camp, which was appreciated not only by the soldier, but by the 
Army. One evening by actual count — the doors were closed and 3567 
men checked out of that big hut. 




In the Le Mans Area 43 

CAMP ETAT PERSONNEL 

P. H. LIKES Camp Secretary 

C. W. McGREW Assistant Camp Secretary 

W. LLOYD- Athletic Secretary 

MISS ALICE COMSTOCK... C ant e.e7i 

MISS ELEANOR MERRITT Canteen 

AMP ETAT, three kilos from Le Mans^ was located 
the yards of Le Mans Division of American railway- 
men. The personnel of the camp comprised 1624 men 
and 78 officers. The location of the Division, exactly be- 
tween the Zone of Advance and the S. O. S., meant that 
practically all the American troops sent to Le Mans for billeting for 
short periods, preparatory to receiving final orders trans fering them 
to the United States, were hauled by the cars of the Le Mans Divi- 
sion. From August 1, 1918, to June 1, 1919, approximately 1,300,000 
soldiers and 127,000 American cars were handled on this Division. 

The men were called upon to work excessively long hours at times, 
especially those engaged in train and engine service, and they were 
also subjected to much inclement weather and many trying predica- 
ments. Thus the Y. M. C. A. had a splendid opportunity to put over 
some real practical service for the men and they measured up to it in 
every way. 

The first "Y" hut in this camp was opened shortly after the estab- 
lislmient of the camp. At the time, there being only a limited number 
of railroad men in the Camp an improvised barracks was considered 
adequate for all needs. But as the camp grew, the demand for a larger 
liut was keenly felt and a more elaborate structure was erected. This 
new hut was built under the direction of Mr. Wright, an Indiana engi- 
neer, with the assistance of camp carpenters, and it was formally dedi- 
cated on November 30, 1918, with impressive ceremony. This hut 
was named "Texas" in honor of Major Maxwell, Division Superin- 
tendent of the Le Mans Division, Texas being his home state. 

This hut was of the "A" type, the main part being 143 feet by 30 
feet in dimensions, with a wing on the west side 40 by 30 feet. It 
consisted of a large auditorium, stage, writing room, library, kitchen, 
store room, and quarters for the Y. M. C. A. personnel. The hut 
was lighted by electricity throughout and the kitchen was equipped 
with a large range and all modern conveniences. The interior of the 
hut was beautifully decorated in blue and gray, with attractive cre- 
tonne curtains. The homelike atmosphere was very noticeable. 



44 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 



Especial mention should be made of the canteen service which was 
classed with the best in the area. Entertainment in the way of moving 
pictures, concerts and shows by varied and various talent was fur- 
nished in abundance, also religious services by Chaplain Major twice 
each Sunday. 

That the men and officers alike were grateful to the Y. M. C. A. 
for its efforts to help them as they labored to get our soldiers to the 
front, and then to get them started on their journey back home, is indi- 
cated by abstracts from a letter of commendation written by the Camp 
Commander, Major Chester Maxwell, which reads as follows: 

"On account of this being a railroad operating unit, Mr. Likes 
has come in contact with soldiers from all over the A. E. F. Railroad 
men as a rule are considered difficult to handle, but he has a personality 
peculiarly adapted to dealing with this class of men, which might be 
favorably compared to transient labor, and I do not hesitate to say 
that he is the most popular Y. M. C. A. secretary in the Sixteenth 
Grand Division of the Transportation Corps. We feel particularly for- 
tunate in having a man of Mr. Likes' calibre in charge of our welfare 
activities and our successful accomplishment in moving the large num- 
ber of troops handled by this Division, is in no small way attributed to 
the fact that our operating personnel is generously cared for in the 
way of entertainment and recreation when not on duty." 




In the Le Mans Area 'iS 

PARIGNE L'EVEQUE PERSONNEL 

HAROLD ROBERTS Camp Secretary 

MRS. KATHERINE GRINNELL .....Canteen 

MISS HAZEL OHMERT Canteen 

M. C. A. activities at Parigne L'Eveque must not pass 
unnoticed in the summary of service in the A. E. C, 
and in relating the survey of service at that point, it 
is necessary to first mention that Parigne L'Eveque is 
the only single town in the A. E. C. which was not 
incorporated into some Division. Nor was this quaint town the scene 
of many passing home-going Divisions. Its first occupancy by Amer- 
ican troops was several days after the signing of the armistice, when 
what was known as the Third Provisional Transport Regiment, com- 
posed of 86th Division Blackhawk men, moved into the old Belgian 
Training Camp, just outside Parigne L'Eveque. 

The Y. M. C. A. at Le Mens was acquainted of the arrival of the 
Americans at this point, and hurriedly assigned a secretary, with a 
huge amount of canteen supplies to the camp. A group of soldiers 
had already fitted out a hut and when the secretary arrived he found 
staring him in the eyes from the sloping foundation of a "Hut" the 
huge letters in white cobbles, Y. M. C. A. 

It was not more than a month when the Blackhawks left the camp, 
and Parigne L'Eveque became the Military Police Training School for 
the A. E. C. With this more or less permanent personnel of camp men 
Y. M. C. A. life took on the color of club life and in the direct words 
of a soldier detailed to the Y. M. C. A. in the camp, "The boys all 
mentioned the "Y" as their club. All functions of entertainment — 
athletic, religious and actual directorship were operated by commit- 
tees of soldiers with the "Y" secretary as their chairman. There were 
regular scheduled programs weekly, including shows, movies, a re- 
ligious night, educational work, and on Saturday nights there was 
always a big dance up town at the Officers' Hotel, where the enlisted 
men were invited and scores of "Y" girls came down from Le Mans to 
add joy to the weekly function. 

A unique treat which the soldiers of Parigne L'Eveque enjoyed each 
morning and evening, that possibly no other Y. M. C. A. could afford, 
was hot cakes and coffee or doughnuts and coffee. It appeared as if 
the old Belgian Barracks which housed the "Y" had been especially 
built for this purpose, for just to the rear of the stage and in an 
adjoining room, was a huge fireplace, a fine place for a big kitchen 
range. It was from this kitchen that the proverbial hot-cake was 
eagerly sought each morning after reveille. 



46 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 



SALVAGE CAMP PERSONNEL 

O. J. HICKS .....Camp Secretary 

MARY LOUISE HOLMES -- Canteen 

KATHERINE HOLMES... Canteen 




ETWEEX a huge pile of discarded Army shoes on one 
side and a small mountain of old khaki uniforms on the 
other, the big Y. M. C. A. tent at Salvage Camp of the 
A. E. C. was a veritable oasis in a desert for the hun- 
dreds of doughboys employed in the monotonious work of 
salvaging soldiers' wearing apparel. 

The Hut-tent was set up when the Salvage Camp was opened late 
in March, 1919, and it was at once popular with the men. The environ- 
ment of the camp, except for this one center of activities, was more 
sombre and commonplace than usual, because of the character of the 
work to be done. Camp headquarters for the Arni}^ was but a short 
distance away and the command kept liaison with the Y. M. C. A. in 
looking after the welfare of the men. 

The tent was equipped with reading and writing rooms, canteen 
quarters, and a small library, which added to the pleasure of the men 
and afforded opportunitj^ for a quiet hour in reading and study. 

Plenty of entertainment was also provided by the "Y" — a feature 
of which was frequent soldier shows. These shows and movie pictures 
helped to fill up the otherwise dull evening and give inspiration and 
pleasure to men who had no other amusement. The canteen which was 
in charge of the two Holmes sisters was a conspicuous success, and 
was so popular that lines of men were almost always in the vicinity. 

The canteen workers decorated the hut very attractivelv, and they 
were awarded a prize in the area contest. Nowhere in the region 
was the "Y" work more appreciated hy the soldiers, than at this hut. 






In the Le Mans Area 




I, 3, 4 anrl 5 Showing Adaptability and Attractiveness of the "Y" Tent at the Salvage 
Camp. 2, 6 and 7. Hut No. 1 at Spur Camp 




48 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

SPUR CAMP PERSONNEL 

GEORGE W. FARR Camp Secretary 

THOMAS B. DIETS _ .....Hut Secretary 

ROBERT M. HOOD Religious Secr.etary 

W. R. PEMBERTON Athletic Secretary 

MARION HAYES Canteen 

MARYE. GLEASON Canteen 

ROBERT W. McCREERY ......Hut No. 2 Secretary 

JESSE B. WATSON... ...Hut No. 3 Secretary 

ELIZABETH MYERS... Canteen 

THOMAS WATKINS...... .......Secretary 

A. C. RICHE Y Secretary 

OVERING IS;') acres of ground which in the early days 
of July, 1918, was a thick forest, the Spur Camp — 
temporary home of 7,500 American soldiers, was among 
the most interesting camps in the area. The site of the 
camp was selected by the Army because of its proxi- 
maty to the railroad lines^ and the possibility of expansion, as needs 
made it necessary. It was really the hub of the great wheel of the 
Embarkation Center. There were 25 iron and steel warehouses having 
a combined floor space of 500,000 square feet, S5 barracks, 8 stables 
with a capacity of 100 horses each, and corrals for several thousand. 
There were three miles of railway lines, big electric light and gas 
plants and a bakery that turned out 62,000 loaves a day. Army sup- 
plies aggregating many millions of dollars were stored and guarded 
at this camp. In addition, Spur Camp had the distinction of having 
the only soldiers' gymnasium in the area. 

The Y. M. C. A. had four hut centers at Spur Camp. Coincident 
with the opening of the Spur, came the "Y" which erected one large 
comfortable hut as soon as possible after the men arrived for duty. 

Huts Nos. 2, 3 and i were built in March, when the camp reached 
its maximum strength. Building sites were selected so that the men of 
the camp might be the more easily and promptly served. The huts 
were of the same general type as those found in other large camps 
in the area and were well adapted to caring for the varied needs of 
the men. 

In addition to the above, the equipment included a large hangar 
used as a dancing pavilion and amusement center. As the field of activi- 
ties was extended, two smaller tents were also utilized in the work. 

Along the river bank near the camp, and set in picturesque and 



In the Le Mans Area 



19 



beautiful environment, was a large chateau which was rented by the 
Y. M. C. A. and used as a billet for the girl welfare workers. This 
spacious "niaison" was the rendezvous for social parties, dances, and 
impromptu teas arranged by the young women for the benefit of the 
officers and men. These features were heartily enjoyed and were 
looked forward to with eager anticipation by the men at the camp. 

The Spur Weekly, a mess paper devoted to camp activities and 
published under authority and supervision of camp headquarters, in its 
final issue had the following testimony to the efficiacy of the "Y" 
work : 

"The 'Y' and its corps of workers with its diversified program — 
religious, educational, athletics and various forms of service^ has been 
a very useful agency to the Army in keeping up the morale and cheer- 
fulness of the men at the Spur Camp. 

"The 'Y' canteen was an indispensible unit in the camp life of the 
men. It was usually well supplied with biscuits, cigarettes, candies and 
other things so necessary to the comfort of the soldier. After April 1 
the wet canteen was started and it has been very popular at all times. 
During the cold, wet days of April "hot dogs" and butter sandwiches 
were served. Hot chocolate was always to be had at certain hours. 
Later as the weather grew warmer, delicious lemonade and cold milk 
chocolate were served. In June ice cream cones were added to the 
menu and. of course, were eagerly consumed and relished by everyone." 




ENTRAINING AT THE FORWARDING CAMP 
Serving Hot Chocolate to 1400 in Fifteen Minutes 




50 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

OVERHAUL PARK PERSONNEL 

M. R. WILLIAMS - Camp Secretary 

WILLIAM LATTIMORE __ Religious Secretary 

JOSEPH BLACKMER Activities Secretary 

W. R. LLOYD — - Athletic Secretary 

RACHEL PUGH._ -- Canteen Secretary 

MARGARET ANN STEWART ..Canteen Secretary 

ALICE TURNER.__ - - Colored Secretary 

MARY E. SUAREZ Colored Secretary 

,VERHAUL PARK was where the wheels were made to 
go around. Acres of rolling stock belonging to the Army 
were here overhauled and repaired, when it became nec- 
essar}^ to haul them in from the roadside. Great, heavj'^ 
five-ton trucks, speedy touring cars, roomy Cadillacs 
and Whites, to say nothing of camionettes, and last but not least Ford 
"tin Lizzies," that vied with big trucks in importance to the service. 
It required more than a thousand men to keep these hundreds of 
motor cars in condition, and the men worked hard and long. They 
would come in from their labors at night covered with grime and dirt, 
weary in body and soul. That was the time the Y. M. C. A. had the 
opportunity to do them a real service, and they did it. 

Two well-manned huts to supply the necessar}^ entertainment and 
comfort, provided a haven of rest. One hut, the largest and best, was 
manufactured from sections of three separate structures, which was 
salvaged from the camp, and put together under the personal super 
vision of the "Y" man in charge of the Park Welfare Service. This 
hut was so attractive that it secured a prize in the division contest in 
April, for novel treatment and material. 

A full program of activities was put on by the Y. M. C. A., stress 
being laid upon outdoor activities and entertainments. Three baseball 
leagues were formed, out of which came one of the strongest teams in 
the area. How these mechanics could play ball ! In addition two suc- 
cessful field meets were held, besides numerous individual and group 
contests. 

In addition to the main hut which proved to be of so much service 
to the men, there was also a smaller one especially for the negroes, 
of whom there were several hundred at the camp. This hut was a large 
room}^ and comfortable place, and was in charge of two colored women 
of education who made a conspicuous success in managing the hut 
and caring for the hundreds who patronized the place. Entertain- 
ments, athletics and religious services, with an occasional lecture com- 
prised a comprehensive and well rounded program. 



In the Le Mans Area 51 

THE YORK HARBOR HUT PERSONNEL 

MRS. G. M. WARDEN Hut Secretary 

MISS R. ULLIAN Financial Secretary 

MISS E. FLANSBURG Religious Secretary 

MISSE. CAHOON Canteen 

MISS LOUISE CLARK __ Canteen 

MISS G. R. DEFINE Canteen 

MISS E. PRYOR Canteen 

MISS P. ROPES .Cantee-n 

MISS E. M. WILLIS Canteen 

A. C. JONES Athletic Director 

C. R. WAGGONER Night Man 

MRS. GERTRUDE GILMOUR Shopping Bureau 





HE Y. D., or "York Harbor" Hut was situated on Place 
Des JacobinSj at mention of which immediately comes 
into one's mind a picture of the wonderful St. Julien 
Cathedral, with its splendid flying buttresses and Gothic 
towers, which dominates the Place. It seems a little in- 
congruous that within 500 yards of this old cathedral, American dough- 
boys should gather in what General Pershing pronounced to be one 
of the most attractive Y. M. C. A. huts in all France. 

This hut was made possible because of a fund solicited by Miss 
Grace Thompson of New York City from the people of York Harbor, 
Maine. To a crack company of engineers, of the 26th (Yankee) Di- 
vision, was assigned the task of constructing the building, which was 
accomplished in what was then the record time of thirtj^-three work- 
ing hours. The hut is designed to accommodate 2,500 people and con- 
tains a large lecture and amusement hall, rest and wash room with 
cot accommodations to sleep fifty men in an emergency, a large and 
splendidly equipped canteen, a recreation and "quiet" room in charge 
of the religious secretary, where books and current magazines are on 



52 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

file; a shopping bureau for the benefit of the American soldier, which is 
unique in itself, and last of all, a guest room where personal friends of 
the boys may be entertained. 

A broad, open fireplace of natural brick at one end of the amuse- 
ment hall, on either side of which stand high-backed wooden benches, 
gives to this room a most inviting air. Above the fireplace, in letters 
of quaint design, appears the following inscription: "Y. D. Memorial 
Hut Dedicated Through the Y. M. C. A. by the People of York Harbor, 
to the 26th Division and by tliat Division to the American Soldiers 
in France." 

The "Y. D." Hut has made many records, and why should it not.'' 
It is manned entirely by women, who have done so much to make Y. 
M. C. A. service to the A. E. F. the wonderful success it has been. 
It is to this fact that "Y. D." owes the atmosphere of home, which 
seems to greet one the moment they cross the threshhold. The interior 
side walls are hung with artistic decorations executed by one of the 
most famous artists in Le Mans, and include a series of panels in 
colors, on which are the insignia of all the units of the Yankee Divi- 
sion. 

The entire structure, wings and all, is covered with a green lattice 
over a white background, which in turn supports roses and ivy vines. 
Boxes of flowers and trailing vines greet you at everj^^ window and 
doorwa^Y, and it is really a treat to walk up the narrow, crooked streets 
which so suddenlj^ open out upon the towering cathedral, with this 
flower-bedecked hut nestling at its feet. 

And the rest rooms ! There is scarcely a doughboy who has come 
into Le Mans, his plans all awry, possibly disappointed in that early 
sailing date for home, which they all crave — dusty, weary, not know- 
ing where to turn, who has not found the "Y. D." Hut rest room exactly 
the place he was looking for. The counter is always covered with 
interesting magazines; the chairs are big, easy and restful; there are 
attractive pictures on the wall, and somehow or other they take you 
out of France and across the "pond" home; the only thing that you 
are asked to do in the rest room is to keep quiet, and once in the rest 
room you don't want to talk. It is enough to sit down, rest, and take 
it all in until you feel all made over again, and ready to go on with 
the game. 





^^S 





i 



54 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

CENTRAL HUT PERSONNEL 

DR. J. L. TAIT - .- - Hut Secretary 

MRS. J. L. TAIT - - - Hostess 

MISS RUTH L. BROOKS Canteeti 

MISS FLORENCE M. JOHNSON. _ Shopping Bureau 

MISS ANNA PARRY -.- - Canteen 

MISS FRANCES PERKINS Sightseeing 

MISS MARGARET POTTS - Canteen 

MISS FERNANDE ROBERTSON.. Librarian 

MISS JEANNETTE SPENCER - Canteen 

E MANS is the center of the great Sarthe Region of 
France and the Central Hut was the center of Le Mans, 
as its name implies. Into this central town and therefore, 
also, into this Central Hut poured the men of the Em- 
barkation Center. 

The hut occupied an old building which was at one time one of the 
many imposing chateaux of this section of P'rance. All about the hut 
within easy reach of walking parties were the places notable not only 
in the historj^ of the city, but also which played a part in the history 
of the country at large. The majestic cathedral only three blocks 
away, keeping ecclesiastical watch over the town, looked down in a 
paternal fashion at the groups of men from the land of the Great 
West gathered in the square and in and about the hut where they were 
made so welcome, while the other points of interest, such as the Queen's 
House and the Musee, a block away, completed the setting for this 
most important and interesting military center. 

For Mr. Wiest, Regional Director at the time of the opening of this 
hut, the problem was like that of the Great Roman, who wrote in his 
commentaries "For Caesar all things were to be done at once." The 
hut was at first headquarters for the whole of the area activities, but 
the rapid development of this section as a military base soon made 
an overflow condition that removed the headquarters to Rue Chanzy 
and gave over the whole building to purely hut activities, which were 
conducted by the limited staff under all the difficulties incident to such 
rapid development. No fully adequate facilities for the housing of the 
throngs of men could be furnished either by the military or the Wel- 
fare bodies and referring to this, one of the early staff", has written 
thus, "They were sleeping on chairs, tables, stairways, floors, in 
draughts and quite often without blankets or overcoats. I have been 
profoundly thanked many times by the boys for permitting them to 
stay all night. They would often say that if it had not been for this 
place they would have had to sleep out in the weather." 



In the Le Mans Area 55 

When Mr. Bookwalter became Regional Director it was decided to 
extend the functions of the Central Hut and Dr. and Mrs. J. L. 
Tait^ at that time Field Secretaries for social centers in England, were 
called to this area and were given charge of this work. The large 
building was renovated and quickly assumed the appearance of a 
pleasant and attractive home in which the men felt they were truly 
welcome. The enlarged staff spared neither time nor pains to make this 
impression a glad reality to the lads, their guests, who quickly found 
themselves adopted into the home, and poured their troubles into the 
willing ears of "Mother." 

The hut activities were manj^ and varied, branching into lines of 
work little realized by the on-looker. "Say, where can I get some 
money for this?" The speaker held an Army check in his hand. "Here 
you are, Buddie," from a man at the desk in the Financial Department, 
and in a minute he was arranging with the big brother for the transf- 
of a part of the cashed check to the folks at home. Thousands of dol- 
lars were sent thus by the financial man and the records show that it 
went to all parts of the Union and hundreds of boys have testified their 
warmest commendation for this service of the Y. M. C. A. rendered 
without the charge of one centime to the man. 

Perhaps it was Monday or Wednesday or Friday, and if so the 
reconnaisance cars were arriving and stood in a long line in front of 
the hut. At a signal the men were "loaded" on the cars and the}^ were 
off to the country for one of the sightseeing excursions organized to 
meet the demands of the boys who had become interested in the point 
of historical interest in which the Department of Sarthe abounds. Lunch 
was on one of the larger cars with a man in charge whose business it 
was to see that this part of the program was properly carried out, so 
that body, spirit and mind were all fed and the day closed with a 
sense of pleasure and profit — that "something accomplished, something 
done" had "earned a night's repose." 

All about the information desk, inside of which the daintv little 
"lady-secretary" from "back home" sat there was a constant buzz of 
questions, "Where is the Cathedral.?" "When can I get a train to 
Tours.''" The time cards came out and the boy goes away happy. 
"Where can I get something to send home to Mother.?" Out went the 
Shopping Secretary and soon the packet, bought with discretion and 
at the most reasonable price, was on its way to the States. "Say, can a 
feller get his chevron sewed on.?" Needle and thread were soon at 
work and a happier and smarter soldier said his thanks to the smiling 
hostess or assistant. 



56 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

Upstairs the writing rooms ^ quiet^ comfortable, with plenty of 
material for the most voluminous letters, and an atmosphere well- 
fitted to "composition/' helped the most backward of the men to send 
back the messages so much longed for, and the reading room with good 
light and plenty of papers and magazines, lifted many a fellow above 
the plane of his worries. During the long winter months, long after the 
roar of battle had died away — months of patient waiting — it was a 
popular place for our soldier boys. It then was the only library of the 
A. L. A. in Le Mans and proved too small to accommodate the large 
number of boys who found enjoyment in good reading, so plans for an 
enlarged library in the Jacobins Gardens were made. When this build- 
ing was opened, the little library at Central Hut was used as an annex, 
but although relegated to a position of secondary importance, it never 
lost its attractiveness and still was visited by many boys who found 
enjoyment in the large assortment of the best work in history, fiction 
and verse. 

And there were other rooms. In came a dozen fellows from a long- 
trip on the train, bending under their heav}^ packs, and grimy from 
travel. Their baggage was quickly removed and put into the com- 
modious check room, and the washroom furnished soap, hot water, and 
clean towels which took care of the rest, the men emerging clean and 
ready for the coffee and rolls that completed their comfort. 

"The home is the thing" as one of the boys put it, and that is the 
sort of atmosphere that was sought. The men were all "boys" to the 
chief secretary and all his co-workers and the office was almost 
c>)nstantly in use as a consultation place where boys were helped in 
their personal problems, aided in official requests, in the getting of 
passports and a hundred and one other things which were constantly 
arising. 

But the story of Central Hut cannot be closed without mention of 
the Night Canteen and Midnight Frolics which made the hut known 
wherever there were A. E. F. men in France. The afternoon always 
brought a program from the Entertainment Department, and in the 
early evening a lecture, "sing" or a dance, followed by movies. But 
the late canteen, running from 1 1 until 3 the next morning, made the 
Central Hut a Mecca for men on leave, waiting for trains, doing night 
shifts in their work, or merely passing through the area. And all the 
while the long coffee line moved toward the canteen, where the frag- 
rant fluid and good, fresh sandwiches were dispensed witli a free hand, 
the Midnight Frolics were providing the best entertainment in the area 
in the assembly room. One didn't know what was meant bv "a sound of 



In the Le Mans Area 



57 



revelry b}^ night" unless he attended the Frolics— and the best part of 
it all was the informality. The best talent in the area, as they dropped 
in from their stunt somewhere in the field, did their bit to entertain 
the waiting crowd and found an appreciation that brought forth their 
best efforts. It was all laughter and fun-jazz music and joy, bubbling 
spontaneoush^ forth and creating an atmosphere of riotous good cheer 
which dispelled the gloom from the sourest-faced, most down-hearted 
doughbo}^ who came within its reach. Many a man held his renewed 
spirit to "stick it out and win all along the line" to the cheer of the 
Midnight Frolics. 




CENTRAL H["'r 

1. Court Showing Movie Screen. 2. Information Counter. 3. Wet Canteen. 4. Games 

Room. 5. Street Entrance, (i. Mother's Room. 7. Porch and Garden 



58 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 





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THE KANSAS HUT PERSONNEL 

W. W. WEBER - - Hut Secretary 

C. F. PARKER -- - - Financial Secretary 

W. R. STONE Activities Secretary 

J. CORNELISON Activities Secretary 

HAROLD J. BROTHERS - - Rations Secretary 

NE OF the largest and finest of the many cafeterias 
opened and financed by the Y. M. C. A. for the Ameri- 
can soldier in France opened for business in March and 
at once filled a long-felt want. This cafeteria was lo- 
cated in one of the most historic spots of the city of Le 
Mans, in the famous Jacobins Gardens, which were excavated for use 
as a gladatorial arena by the Romans before the time of Christ. 

The structure was originally designed as a "Y" activities hall; how- 
ever, the need of a large cafeteria in this centrally located section 
of the city was apparent before the original plans were carried out, 
and they were changed and adapted to its present use. The building 
was the combination of two A type huts, and had ample accommoda- 
tions to seat at table 250 men at one time. Thousands were served very 
expeditiously. The kitchen equipment was of the latest, with large 
ranges, modern dish-washing apparatus, sinks and adequate sanitary 
garbage disposition. 

The food was cooked and served in plain sight of all, and its white- 
ness and cleanliness reminded all Americans of the famous Childs' type 
at home. One large section of the building was given over to a modern 
American ice cream plant, with daily capacity of 1000 gallons of the 
whity coolness that furnished to thousands of doughboys their first 
taste of real ice cream since the}^ left American shores. 

So much for the matter-of-fact description of one of the finest bits 
of "Y" service to the A. E. F. in France. But let us wander into this 
huge building and see for ourselves what it is that so appeals to the 
dovighboy and brings him back — and back — and back. AVe enter the 
grounds — large, wide spaces, lovely, shad^^ trees — a sense of coolness 
and cleanliness very soothing to the tired, dusty doughboy who has just 
covered weary kilos with his pack weighing heavily on his back. Just 
a fitting setting for the cafeteria itself. We cross the threshhold and 
see a huge room, high ceiling, cool and clean, a sense of good cheer 
which then analyzed, is easily traceable to the masses of light yellow 
and blue used in decorating the interior. And those tables ! Row on 




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60 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

row, white and clean — a flowering plant in the center of each one — 
while the delectable odor of coff'ee — American coifee ! and pies baking 
to the home-loved crispness and brownness — creeps into the senses. 
Without a thought the pack drops from the doughboy's back — a sigh 
of contentment comes from his very innermost being — and the tired 
lines smooth out to an appreciative grin as he flies past the counter 
and takes his seat — only one of several hundred like him- — his tray 
laden with good, wholesome, home-like food which just touches the 
spot ! 

Hunger satisfied he begins to take stock of what is going on around 
him; it's funny — ^but he just begins to realize that that orchestra on 
the platform is playing some pretty good music ; what was that last 
piece they played? He leans over and asks his "Buddie." — Oh, yes! 
That was the piece his sister used to play back home. Gee ! These 
French know some pretty good stuff", don't they ? And so on — And back 
of all this a work done willingly, tirelessly, and well ! 

A "Y" secretary acts as special buyer for the raw materials which 
taste so good when they have been prepared by the "Y" chefs ; his 
Ford Camionette rambles many miles each day, the "Y" man laden 
with many, many francs — to return each night, the Ford groaning 
under the load, the "Y" man "sans francs." And the next day it is all 
to be done over agian. 

The "Y" girls at the counter give the finishing home touch with their 
smile of good cheer to the lads filing by. The menu and prices charged 
for meals were those established by the general supply committee of 
the Y. M. C. A., and were those prevailing in all "Y" hotels and res- 
taurants of the A. E. F. — namely, breakfast, one franc fifty centimes; 
noon luncheon, two francs fifty centimes ; dinner, three francs. The 
average number of meals served daily was 2000 and while open to 
both officers and enlisted men, there was no embarrassment in serving 
both alike at its attractive tables, without question the service rendered 
by this splendidly organized and working cafeteria, was one of th:- 
most appreciated activities in this region, from the standpoint of the 
Army Headquarters. 







In the Le Mans Area 61 

LIBRARY PERSONNEL 

MISS AGNES LATIMER BACON Chief Secretary 

MISS ESTHER JOHNSTON Assistant Secretary 

OVEMBER 8, 1918, saw the opening of the first little 
library in a corner room of Army Headquarters Build- 
ing in Bourse de Commerce, Le Mans. It was a general 
meeting place and bureau of information, open to offi- 
cers and enlisted men alike, one of the few warm places 
in Le Mans, where one was free to read, smoke and visit with friends. 

In a muddy courtyard a file of men waited to come into the reading 
and writing rooms. Many were from remote parts of the area, and by 
way of celebrating their leave from camp, spent the night sleeping on 
the stone floor here. They came into the small, crowded, smoky read- 
ing room, as many as could crowd in, to security and warmth and 
forgetfulness of their monotonous life. 

"Books ! Haven't seen 'em since we hit the trenches ! Didn't have 
time to think of 'em there, but its awful to be without them now the 
fighting's over." The eagerness and complete absorption with which 
they lost themselves in novels, in magazines, in technical books — in all 
subjects but those of war — is one of the compensations for the monot- 
onous grind of the librarian encamped in France. From the library, 
magazines were distributed by mail to the various places in the area — - 
comparatively easy until in December the points of distribution sud- 
denly jumped in two days from 30 to nearly 100. This necessitated 
moving the base of general distribution, and in the late afternoon of 
January 3, the Army order came that the library must be moved the 
following day as the space it occupied must be used for militar)'- 
purposes. 

It seemed almost impossible to find a place suitable, but the library 
could not be given up. Some canteen women offered the use of their 
little private room" on the second floor of the Central "Y" Hut, and 
the library moved in. It was a tiny back room, with old-fashioned 
furniture, a quaint old mirror, a cosy open fireplace and three of the 
most comfortable chairs in France, and it very soon became a clearing 
house for half the men in khaki — whether they wanted to see the head 
of the Architectural School or the Army Post School or the officer who 
could best direct them for entrance to the numerous French and Eng- 
lish universities. For the library was the incentive and beginning of 
the Army Post School, and played a most important part in the edu- 



62 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

cational interest of the A. E. F. It was here that an architect from 
San Francisco met an architect from Minneapolis and succeeded in 
interesting several members of the Chicago Art Institute and the New 
York Art League in forming a class out of which developed the Archi- 
tectural School 

Discussion with men as they were taking out books often led to the 
discovery that they were fully qualified as teachers for groups which 
tlie librarian had gathered together — men to whom the war had meant 
leaving college, or other schools and who were eager to catch up their 
dramatic ability as best they might. Several men were also found with 
real dramatic ability, and care was taken that they were referred to the 
Y. M. C. A. Entertainment Department, where they found the proper 
outlet for their talent and relief from the deadly monotony. 

The stories that this tiny room could tell ! For the daily round of a 
librarian includes all activities from trying to supply the latest imagist 
poetr}^ to mending kit-bags. She sees from morning to night a constant 
stream of wet, tired, home-sick, bored, disconsolate men — men suffer- 
ing from a sudden let-down in tension and from lack of occupation for 
their minds. Tonight is a good night for reading, the light, cold rain 
outside increasing the feeling of comfort and security roused by the 
burning logs. The room has a blue haze of smoke from pipe and ciga- 
rettes, and there is the glow from the fire and the sheen of holly in the 
bowl on the mantel. To the left of the desk is seated a burly man, 
rather old for the draft army, and he had been of late rather low in 
his mind until he was asked to give a course on Building to the men in 
the camp school — and what a change ! Arranging his lectures, work- 
ing out calculations from a treatise on masonry construction — his heav}?^ 
face almost animated as he exclaims, "Even the fellows who don't 
think of going into the contracting business are fixing to get married 
when they go home and want to know something about houses. So they 
come to my school." 

A man has just come in for light fiction to take his thoughts from 
gloomy things. He is a musician and the chief duty of his band now 
is playing for five or six funerals every morning. "It gets on a fellow's 
nerves," he says, "knowing the way those chaps got through the Ar- 
gonne and were taken b}' the 'flu' on their way home." And as he 
takes the most diverting novel the librarian can find, another dismal 
visitor arrives. He is the official photographer of the funerals, and 
wants the "Y" girl to choose which of the jahotographs should go to 
the mothers. 



In the Le Mans Area 63 

In spite of the urgent need for greater space, it was not until April 
that the library was moved to a separate building in the Jacobins 
Gardens. The building erected upon the site indicated by the Army, 
was given by the Red Cross ; the Y. M. C. A. furnished the chairs and 
the tables, and the greater share of the interior decorations, while the 
American Library Association furnished a large and adequate supply 
of books. While the library was from this time under the supervision 
of the A. L. A., the Y. M. C. A. continued to suppl}^ the personnel and 
to take a kindly interest in the work which liad grown to such propor- 
tions under their tutelage. 

The development of this work to the point of transfer to the Amer- 
ican Library Association is only one more instance of the spirit of the 
Y. M. C. A. organization. Its personnel, overseas for service, realized 
a demand and its vital importance — and met it. growing as it grew and 
carrying the work along until other organizations more slow to get into 
the field could take it over. Service of this kind finds its greatest appre- 
ciation in the hearts of those served and needs no further com- 
mendation. 



DOUGHNUTS FOR THE A. OF O. 

Personnel, Fifteen Girls in Charge of Miss Honore McNamara 

"Well, if here isn't Sis !" 

"Who said the Y. M. C. A. had gone home!" 

"Hello, Sis." 

"Here's a girl we can fraternize with !" 

"Hello, Miss Y. M. C. A.; verstehen sie English.? * * * You bet I 
can understand doughnuts !" and he reached for the big string of 
doughnuts that a Y. M. C. A. girl was holding up outside the car door. 

T WAS JULY, in the year 1919, that memorable year 
when the A. E. F. returned to the U. S. A. so P. D. Q. 
The stories of the whimsical shuffles of Fate or G. H. Q. 
(which is all the same to khaki) in getting the Yanks 
home will make conversation around firesides for years 
to come ; but the loudest and longest story will be of those buddies up 
on the Rhine at whom R. Me Rumor shook a persistent finger and 
hissed villainously, "You'll be left here for five years to grease the 
Watch on the Rhine." For blue moons, Rumor got by with his wretched 
jest; all the high-numbered divisions went home, first by ones, then in 
twos, then by threes and fours, and finally by pieces of eight, but the 
Regulars stayed "Settin' Jake" on the bridgeheads of the Rhine. All 
the A. E. F. had moved out of France, with the exception of a few bare 




64 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

traces. Little was left in life that was worth the living. 

Then shuffle No. 1001, and the order came for the Regulars to go 
home. Stakes were pulled up without any music, and the long line o 
-t9-Hommes-per began to pull out of Germany at the rate of three a 
day. Again French "permissionaires" deflected the course of straight- 
forward Yanks, and the heavy trains of boxcars, bearing their precious 
American freight, were sent to Brest by devious and circuitous routes. 
The journey from Coblenz to Brest lasted four or five days, and there 
were eats but twice a day ! 

Imagine the surprise of the American soldiers when at Alencon, a 
day and a half from Brest, during a six-minute stop of the train, there 
suddenly appeared at the door of the "A. E. F. Pullman" Y. M. C. A. 
girls and soldier details with heavy baskets of doughnuts or sandwiches 
or home-made fudge. Anticipating the short duration of the six min- 
utes, the girls had strung the doughnuts together in mammoth loops, 
one for each car ; or they had tied the sandwiches — big, generous ones 
— and the fudge — huge, slabby squares of it — up in packages which 
could be handed to the sergeant in charge of each car; then there was 
the girl with the truckload of today's papers which were handed into 
the cars in bunches ; and if any time was left, the busy girls, who must 
work the full length of the train in the short time, paused for the 
volley of questions and banter hurled at them from the revived buddies, 
to whom the sight of an American girl in her blue canteen apron with 
its fresh white collars and cuffs, smiling merrily or sjanpathetically 
as she handed out her strings of golden doughnuts, was as an oasis in 
the desert of the long, tedious, uncomfortable journey. 

The Y. M. C. A. did not undertake to feed the three trainloads of 
men a day during their few minutes' stop at Alencon; all it could at- 
tempt was to pass out a bite along the road, and to break the monotony 
of the long journey to the coast with a "Hello, Buddie, we're with 
you." Even this bit was accomplished under strenuous difficulties, for 
had not the militar}^ authorities said, "Get the welfare workers home," 
and had not the area been cleared by a wholesale sweeping into Paris 
of the canteen girls of the Le Mans area.^ The scheme involved many 
complications, for it meant the holding out of equipment just when 
everything was being salvaged and turned in ; it meant a securing of 
enormous supplies just when all arteries were being cut from the base; 
it meant a call for volunteer soldier detail, just when all the men were 
most interested in getting home. But the plan was put into effect and 
carried out with a success beyond expectation. The minimum number 
of girls were carefully selected who could put out the maximum number 
of doughnuts, fudge, and sandwiches, with the greatest amount of 



In the Le Mans Area 65 

cheerfulness over a lake of boiling grease under an August sun, who 
were willing to tackle a second time the tub of fudge that had failed 
the right consistencj^ at the first cooking, and who were swift at 
changing into a fresh apron and who could carry a still happier smile 
when time came to "work" the troop-train in its tantalizingly short 
stop. Some qualifications, these! Y. M. C. A. girls must needs have 
qualifications at any time, but ordinarily they work under the inspira- 
tion of the companionship of the men whom thev are serving. Every 
girl will tell you that when the buddies are around any amount of work 
or managing of irons in the fire becomes easier. But at Alencon all the 
fim and inspiration of the personal touch existed only in the imagina- 
tion. The glorious end of the fatiguing routine was the few minutes at 
the train, when the appreciation and thanks of the soldiers on the 
troop trains sent the girls back to their hot, grinding task with fresh- 
ened -courage. Because the hours for the arrival of the trains were 
irregular and uncertain hence causing long waits at the station with the 
baskets of food, only three girls and one soldier met each train — which 
meant that each girl in the crew met only one train a day. And the rest 
of the day was work^-long hours of hard, hot work, Sundays, birth- 
days, and all ! 

The doughnut-sandwich-fudge factory was in an old French dwell- 
ing whose chief asset was a back yard big enough to accommodate the 
numerous hot water boilers, the dough-table, the various grease blotting- 
pads all covered with doughnuts ready for the stringing. In the 
kitchen, the dining room, the reception room, and the hallways were 
Dixie platters of fudge in their various stages of cooling. On the 
second was the sandwich factory — dishpans full of mayonnaise dress- 
ing; piles of hams that had been boiled in the kettles in the back yard; 
buckets and buckets of cheese being melted to a spreadable consistency. 

At a long table in the corner where none other dared intrude, pre- 
sided Jack, the bread-cutter, who exhausted vocabularies trying to ex- 
press his opinion of the instability and jazziness of Army bread that 
the girls demanded should be "nicely cut." Jack was a brave soldier 
out of the Second Division, and in days still further remote he was a 
star skater at the Metropolitan in New York. Now he had cast his 
fortunes with the crew of merry, willing girls who were staying over 
and working with lights under a hot bushel "all for the boys ;" and 
Jack, who was a good sport and a bon comrade of tlie buddies from the 
Rhine, stayed over with them, hoping to get home only in time to fill 
his engagement for the first of September. Then there was Lewis out 
of another Division — the willingest soldier that ever helped a "Y" 
girl lift a G. I. can of chocolate. Lewis always had the kevs to the 



66 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

situation at his finger tips, and he never missed a trick. He did big 
jobs and little — the point was, he always did them. Then there was 
Brindle who did the hauling from the base of supplies, who was 
mechanic for everything that might break down, whether the five-ton 
track that hauled stuffs out of Le Mans or the meat-chopper that 
ground up the big, juicy hams. As is the usual story of the Y. M. C. 
A. canteen girl, the girls of this crew could not possibly have gotten 
along without their soldier detail. 

At Alencon was stationed some two hundred of the engineers who 
pulled the American troop trains through the Sarthe district on their 
way to the coast. Who wonders that in their idle hours they wandered 
into the doughnut "foundry," where there was the added attraction of 
a bevy of American girls ! Then it was that the soldier detail came 
into its own, and it was Jack who usually named the price in tasks for 
each "hand-out." 

The work at Alencon lasted from July 7 to August 10. The personnel 
of the girls who stayed on the job throughout the time is as interesting 
as the pursuits from which they came in civil life is varied or as the 
sections which they represent in the States are diversified. Three 
domestic science teachers were quite in thier elements at the com- 
pounded mixing, whether they were skillful with the primitive cook- 
ing equipment or not. An illustrator of a certain well known magazine 
and an artistic photographer of no small degree of success occasionally 
gave suggestion that they still had a temperament by a bit of raving- 
over the apricot-colored creaminess of the cheese filling or over the 
golden-brown of the doughnuts (much to Jack's disgust) ; a business 
woman of a breezy western town and a school woman from a southern 
state occasionally interposed poise to the situation when an actress 
with a keen sense of humor and Jack were swinging their badinage 
too high for the good of the work. 

But the jokiest joke that ever flew in the banter was the joke which 
was the truest words of all — what they did was "all for the boys !" 





In the Le Mans Area 67 

HUT CONSTRUCTION 
PERSONNEL 

W. D. Skinner, Regional Director George Emsley 

William Wrights Wm. E. Mix 

George W. Garloch John F. Worth 
George F. Keith 

HE HUT construction work in the area of Le Mans 
began in October with the erection of a Berger B. Hut 
at Forwarding Camp. Since then 26 structures were 
completed, of types divided and described as follows: 
Five Class A Huts, four Class B Huts, ten Class C 
Huts, seven buildings of special construction. 

Technically, standard Y. M. C. A. huts are as follows: Type A, or 
Class A, 9x43 meters with extension at side; Type B, double building 
with adjustable partitions in centers and extensions on end and side, 
size overall 27x50 meters ; Type C, 9x30 meters. The cost for con- 
structing such huts have been on an average, respectively, 64,373 
francs, 86,560 francs and 33,060 francs. 

Number and location of Class "A" Huts — Jacobins Gardens, 1 ; Foi*- 
warding Camp, 2; Camp Etat, 1; Belgian Camp, 1. 

Number and location of Class "B" Huts — Classification Camp, 1 ; 
Forwarding Camp, 1 ; Belgian Camp, 1 ; Place des Jacobins, 1. 

Number and location of Class "C" Huts — Bonnetable, 1 ; Conlie, 1 ; 
Chateau de Loire, 1 ; Spur Camp, 1 ; Forwarding Camp, 2 ; Le Mans 
Warehouse (15 trusses in length), 1; Belgian Camp, 1; Jacobin Gar- 
dens, 1 ; Overhaul Park, 1 . 

Number and location of special construction — Le Mans Station (15x 
21 feet), 1; Belgian Camp Theatre, addition (13x90 feet), 1; For- 
warding Camp Auditorium (39x17 meters), 1; Jacobins Gardens addi- 
tion to "A" Type Hut (30x80 feet), 1 ; Spur Hangar (20x28 meters), 
1; Belgian Camp Hangar (20x28 meters), 1; Belgian Camp Athletic 
Dressing Room (12x50 feet), 1- 

In addition to the huts, 129 tents were stretched in the area, of the 
following types and values : 

Eighty-four Abri tents 6x18 meters, costing 10,200 francs each. 

Twenty-five Henry tents 6x18 meters, costing 10,200 francs each. 

Twenty Oval tents 25x50 meters, costing 5000 francs each. 

In the erection of most of the huts of this area "Soldier Details" 
were secured from the camps where the huts were to be built, but in 



68 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 



some instances details were secured from labor battalions, at Spur 
Camp, which were used to construct buildings at other points. The 
labor situation and the transportation problem were, as everywhere 
else, the most serious to solve. The delays often caused by lack of 
transportation are a thing always to be regretted. 

In the erection of some particular huts the heartiest cooperation was 
accorded by men of certain units. The two outstanding examples of 
such cooperation are the Berger B Hut, which was built in Place des 
Jacobins, Le Mans, by a detail from the 26th Division under the direc- 
tion of Mr. Mix, in the remarkable time of thirty-three working hours. 
This is the hut which has been dedicated to the Yankee Division, and 
is known as the "Y. D. Hut." The real record for hut construction, 
however, was that made by the men from the 28th or Keystone Divi- 
sion. A hut of Standard Type A was constructed in the Forwarding 
Camp by the Engineers of this Pennsylvania Division in the world- 
record time of 17V2 working hours. It was befitting that this hut 
should be christened the "Keystone Hut." 



H A^ 




In the Le Mans Area 



()9 




1. Indiana Hut at Belgian Camp on Derlieation Day. 2. Following- Ceremony of Derlica- 
tioii, Auditorium Forwarding Camp, from Left to Right, Front Row. A. (\. Bookwalter, 
Regional Director; General Jackson. Commanding Forwarding Camp: General Johnston, 
Commanding 91st Division; "Gen." Mead, Head of "Y" (iirls in France; E. C. Carter, 
Chief Secretary Y. M. C. A.; W. D. Skinner, Director of Construction, Le Mans Region. 
H. Keystone Hut at Forwarding Camp and Soldier Detail of 28tli Division that Erected 
it in Record-Breaking Time of Seventeen and One-half Hiitrs. 




70 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

HUT DECORATION 
PERSONNEL 

BLANCHE C. GRANT Regional Decorator 

FRED G. DAY.. Assistant Regional Decorator 

HERRICK BRADLEY..... Driver and Assistant 

OREN WAGGONER ..Assistant 

N JANUARY, when Le Mans area was bracing itself 
for the concentration here of thousands of men pouring 
through on their waj^ to the coast, the Y. M. C. A. huts 
were springing up like mushrooms over night. Miss 
Blanche C. Grant of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sent down 
from Paris as Regional Decorator. She found that in the whirlwind 
of building, decoration had been in a vague way considered, but was 
after all more or less a fifth spoke in the wheel. No office, supplies 
scattered in various places, and no transportation showed a situation 
which meant that she must build from the ground. 

A small, very small room, about four feet square was found in the 
rear of the courtyard of Headquarters. A broom and some brown 
paper were brought into play and a "warehouse" was ready to receive 
the few materials available. Some paint and four sets of curtains 
proved to be the "wares." The discovery that an Army camion started 
once in a while from the Place de Republique for the various camps 
began a solution of the Transportation problem. The house for the 
women at the Forwarding Camp had just been completed and here the 
decorator began with yellow and grey. 

Soon it was realized that badly as transportation and supplies were 
needed, personnel for the Department was needed worse ; and still 
more was it necessary to arouse an interest in decoration. At home the 
"Y" stood for the best that could be afforded. And now that the days 
of the front line emergencies were passed, cheer and courage were 
needed by the men who waited; and color was one means of giving 
them that. 

Persistent appeals for transportation won now and then a short 
ride. One day a man who frankly admitted he had no training in the 
art of mixing colors, matching of cretonnes or judging of designs, 
reported as additional personnel. He was not an artist, but he was of 
much service in the way of buying and begging for transportation. 
-February 17, a driver of a camionette, reported to the department for 
duty. Soon he was asked, "Just what does the lady do?" The answer 
was werj definite, and from then on transportation was assured. 

Since the professional personnel was not forthcoming and since 



In the Le Mans Area 71 

the color cheer was needed so direly over all the area, something must 
be done to speed up the work. A hint was dropped and the idea grew. 
A contest was put on throughout the region. Announcements and 
speeches aroused curiosity, but the real interest came with the comple- 
tion of a hut or two in towns where heretofore the men had accepted 
the dirty hall which had fallen to their lot. The decorator's office soon 
came to be flooded with calls. The assistant did a thriving business in 
paint, and the cretonne supply was soon exhausted. Personal trips to 
Paris brought a load of flags and beautiful cretonne which soon found 
its way to the huts of the area. The men were really interested in 
the contest and took a keen pride in their respective huts. 

A report from the hut decoration department shows something 
accomplished every day during its existence ; the report for February 
reads "Ten places started and office supplies given to 24 places." Since 
then the number of places reached and decorated totals 140. But no 
mere record could tell the whole story of the advice and encourage- 
ment given, the interest and appreciation on the part of the men them- 
selves, and the esprit de corps of the several groups of soldier details 
who handled the paint in the various huts. 

A run out into the area brought one to the little dark hall at Yvre le 
Boliu, where a decorator transformed the place into a veritable 
theatre by painting the walls with light yellow, browns and purple, to 
resemble heavy curtains drawn back to display the well known insignia 
of the 80th Division. A woodland scene added to the small stage. In 
another direction one found an old-time market place with huge beams 
and posts made into a "Y" by use of broom and brush ladened with 
blue and yellow. Not far awaj^ was a warehouse with gay curtains of 
yellow and green, and walls clean with soft yellow and brown water 
color. A tent was interesting for its decoration. The furniture had 
been painted a bright blue and a group of. five allied flags gave snap 
to the place. At another place a "Y" woman dispensed good chocolate 
pver a counter painted black while the walls were a lovely rose ; at the 
windows against the black woodwork hung curtains of yellow with 
rose and black design. This "tea room" was the ante-room to the 
theatre, where blue and white predominated. 

Nearer the larger cities were the huge huts. A few miles away from 
Le Mans was the Forwarding Camp, where two decorators vied with 
each other. The cafeteria or the "Green Hut" at the Jacobins Gardens 
showed what big masses of light yellow and blue could do in the way of 
cheer, while one ate a good meal. The Etat Camp hut was cool in gray 
and blue with splashes of color borrowed from the flags of many 



72 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

nations. The Central Hut was an example of what could be done with 
an old French house, with warm red curtains and yellow as a back- 
ground for stunning posters. It must be kept in mind that no attempt 
was made to make homes out of places that could never be such, but 
rather to try with big poster designs and bright colors to tell the boys 
that someone had been thinking of them, that someone cared not only 
back home, but also in France, that someone was calling courage 
through the color and hoping the "Y" would hold more for them than 
the bar not far awa}^ That the men appreciated all this cannot be 
doubted. Talk for a while to the fellow who had come back from the 
land where the "Y" could not go. Let him tell his story. Watch him 
as he looks around. All this work had its subtle appeal for good. 

The credit for the vision and the designing of the decoration for the 
huts in the Le Mans area is demonstrated by the following tribtite: 
"You have done one of the finest pieces of "Y" service in France." 
This credit belongs primarily to Miss Grant, but she, as is so often the 
story of a "Y" girl, attributes the success of the work to the soldiers 
of the local huts, who so willingly and so eagerly followed her every 
suggestion in the brightening up of their Y. M. C. A. Their efforts 
and faithfulness made possible the hut decoration. 



DECORATION OF HUTS 



Number of places decorated in some manner 140 

Materials Furnished 

Money Expended, Cretonne 9. ()()() francs 

Flags, 1200 - 9,000 francs 

Posters Furnished 250 

Paint 16,900 francs 

Stage Curtains 13,300 francs 

Special Decorations and Signs 1,500 francs 

Flower Boxes 3,000 francs 

Grounds 1,000 francs 

Hut Decoration — Contest March 15, April 30: Niuriber of 

Huts, Tents, Halls, Rooms in Contest 100 

Special Undertakings 
American Cemeteries Decoration Day, Athletic S. O. S. Meet, A. E. 
C. County Fair, A. E. C. Athletic Meet, A. E. F. Competitions, Inter- 
Allied Competitions, Franco-American Fete. 



In the Le Mans Area 73 

HUT EQUIPMENT, SUPPLY AND SALVAGE DEPARTMENTS 

PERSONNEL 

H. O. MADDOX Regional Salvage Secretary 

G. H. WATSON ...Chief Associate Salvage Department 

ILA DIXON .....Secretary Salvage Department 

VIRGINIA D. LEACH .....Stenographer 

F. C. AGNEW - - Warehouse Superintendent 

A. C. ALLEN ...Billing Clerk 

S. E, HARVOUT ...Musical Instruments 

JOHN F. WORTH Te'nts 

J. O. FISH - V Field Secretary 

HARRY C. GREEN Field Secretary 

GEO. F. HARBIGE - - .Field Secretary 

GEO. EMSLEY - Chauffeur 




HEN the Y. M. C. A. was org<anized in Le Mans, there 
were two departments from which supplies were ob- 
tained, one known as the Supply Department, and the 
other the Hut Equipment. The Suppl,v Department 
furnished all necessar}'^ wet and dry canteen supplies, 
such as cigars, cigarettes, biscuits, jam, milk, cocoa, chocolate, dental 
cream, soap, etc. This was one of the busiest departments in the 
Y. M. C. A. For instance, during March, 531 truck loads of mer- 
chandise were sent out of the warehouse to the different Divisions in 
this area, totaling in value -1,596,769.80 francs. 

The Hut Equipment furnished all equipment necessary for a com- 
plete Y. M. C. A.; hut, tables, benches, tents, pianos, chairs, phono- 
graphs and records, lanterns, lamps, cots, mattresses, blackboards, and 
all kinds of kitchen utensils. On April 1, 1919, the Y. M. C. A. had 
equipped and supplied, in the Le Mans area, 24<1 huts and tents. 
These Y. M. C. A. activities centers were also constantly changing with 
the entraining and detraining of troops, so this department had to 
keep on the job to supply them all and meet the many emergencies. 

All kinds of stationery was also furnished by the Hut Equipment 
Department, as well as pens, ink and pen holders. 



74 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

The total amount of merchandise as shown by records for the 
months of December^ January, February and March was over 12,- 
000,000 francs, and welfare work for this period to the end of March, 
1919, was approximately 7 per cent of the total or about 85,000 francs. 
The proportion for April was more than double because of the large 
number of wet canteens operating, and the Y also gave away hot 
chocolate and biscuits from two to three days a week. 

At the end of April, in addition to 71 tents, the Y. M. C. A. had a 
large number of h'.its, theatres and rented quarters of various knids, 
in the aggregate amounting to over 300. These huts and buildings 
ranged in size from single rooms to the regular Army hangar, requir- 
ing from 800 to 1,000 benches and a car-load of flooring. 

On April 1, 1919, the Army took back the dry canteens and the Hut 
Equipment and Supply Departments were combined, and known as 
the Supply Department. Every day a constant stream of secretaries 
poured into the office calling for various kinds of supplies, that were 
usually in the warehouse to be issued, but when they were not, the old, 
old story, "A carload of supplies is on the way from Paris, or a truck 
is coming from Paris tonight," was enough. 

Out of the Supply Department developed the Salvage Department. 
The purpose of this was to keep the property and equipment of the 
Y. M. C. A. in active service, and dispose of the same when it became 
certain that it would no longer be needed for Y. M. C. A. purposes. 
The Salvage Department was organized by the authority of the Execu- 
tive Committee of the Paris office, and operated under the general 
supervision of the head of the General Supply Division of the Paris 
headquarters. 

On May 1, an inventory of all hut equipment and supplies was taken 
by a field secretar}^, and then the big shift began. Supplies were trans- 
ferred from one "Y" activities center to another to meet the urgent 
demands, as the thousands of troops came and went through this area. 

When supplies were no longer needed in the various huts and tents 
they were immediately salvaged and brought into "Y" headquarters. 
In one day 20 Army and "Y" trucks were sent out, with 85 detail men, 
and 23 Y. M. C. A. centers salvaged and the supplies brought to our 
warehouse. 

Salvaged supplies were disposed of through a regular sales depart- 
ment, and some were sent back to Paris, to be disposed of there. 



In the Le Mans Auka 



75 



DRY CANTEEN SERVICE 
January, February, jNIarch 

January 4,307,680. 1 5 francs 

February - 3,601,489.05 francs 

March 4,164,858.15 francs 

On March 31 merchandise invoiced to the Army amounted to 4,- 
318.350.48 francs. 



Distribution of Dry Canteen Service in part as follows 



DRY CANTEEN SERVICE 



January 

Cigars 4,750,000 

Cigarettes 7,245,136 

Biscuits 120,767,500 

Jam 12,239,800 

Milk 1,707,600 

Cocoa 41,784,375 

Chocolate 

Chewing Tobacco 26,130,960 

Candles 7,872,024 

Eaisins 560,000 

Sundries 5,065,400 

Chocolate Dainties 

Razors 27,000,000 

Peanuts 22o',000 

Soap 2,730,000 

Handkerchiefs 1,872,000 

Towels 3,300^000 

Chewing Gum 5,880,000 

Sugar 

Lemon Droiis 

Candy 

Fruit 

Smoking Tobacco 

Dental Cream 

Matches 

Fruit Syrup 

Ex. Matches • 



February 

1,325,000 
39,150,500 
121,513,500 
23,585,490 
15,458,400 
13,592,100 
33,653,660 
34,705,800 
200,000 



11,882,600 
10,000,000 



100,000 
3,666,000 

24,260,000 
1,200,000 

11,580,000 



22,302,000 



554,000 



1,404,000 



March 

9,752,000 
.50,815,750 
97,242,500 
42,877,700 
21,071,480 

2,813,-500 
48,464,500 

4,791,660 

42,400 

200,000 

9,034,720 
10,835,000 



7,160,000 

480,000 

3,756,000 

3,880,000 

1,66.5,000 

5,136,000 

963,600 

426,600 

11,892,800 

4,662,400 

21,716,000 

878,400 

5.625.000 



FIXED HUT EQUIPMENT 



Tents 

Pianos 

Phonographs 

Tables^ 

Chairs 

Benches 

Pens 

Paper 2,500,000 

Envelopes 1 ,350,000 

Post Cards 



Dec. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


March 


30 


45 


56 


65 


35 


51 


63 


7S 


50 


62 


80 


93 


800 


1,000 


1,500 


1,500 


50 


100 


200 


300 


1,200 


2,000 


3,000 


3,000 


3,500 


5,000 


7,500 


7,500 


)00,000 


1,150,000 


4,350,000 


3,750,000 


150,000 


603,000 


3,953,000 


2,530,000 






1,077,000 


1,000,000 



76 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

April 

Tents 91 

Pianos 85 

Phonographs • ■ • 10^ 

Tables 2,000 

Chairs 300 

Benches 4,000 

Pens 7,500 

Paper 3,250,000 

Envelopes 1,750,000 

Post Cards 35,000 



May 


June 


85 


68 


83 


70 


101 


85 


2,000 


1,500 


400 


400 


4,500 


4,500 


7,500 


3,000 


2,850,000. 


1,050,000 


1,700,000 


500,000 


300,000 


125,000 



The Following List Shows Miscellaneous Items of Htit Equipment 
\Mith Which Most Stations Were Adequately Equipped. 



Blackboard chalk, box, eraser 

Blankets, boiler, 25 gal., 10 gal. 

Broom, bristle, push, corn 

Candlestick, can opener 

Carbide, 10-pound can 

Casserole, with cover 

cleansing cloth 

Cot, folding, telescope, mattress 
for same. Pillow for same 

Cup and saucer (Officers' Club) 

Dish drain, wire, fire extinguisher 

Fork, table 

Furniture for Officers' Clubs : 
Chair, wicker arm, chaise 
lounge, table, wicker. 



Lamp, carbide; lamp, tip; lantern, 
carbide 

Mirror; mop, dish; mug, triangle 

Oil cloth; organ, folding (for 
mobile areas only) 

Pail ; pan, dish, large ; pan, fry ; 
pan, stew ; percolator 

Piano (stationary' areas only) 

Piano cover 

Pitcher, 2-quart ; plate, dinner 

Phonograph, needles, records 

Safe, portable, small; strong box 

Signs, triangle, enamel, arrow, 
enamel. 

Spoons, mixing, large; tea 

Table, folding 



Games : Baby billiard set (boxed) , 

checker set, complete, domino Stove, complete w. ,5 m. pipe, 
set, complete. poker, shovel 



Knife, cook; knife, table 



Tea kettle ; towel, dish ; wash basin 



In the Le Mans Area 77 

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT 
PERSONNEL 

A. E. MARRIOTT Athletic Director 

A. W. PEEL Associate Director 

COE HAYNE Director of Games 

A. C. JONES Assistant Director of Games 

F. L. DAUGHERTY Director of Boxing 

J A. DENNIS Assistant Director of Boxing 

W. V. C. NELSON Director of Supplies 

Salvage and Transportation 
MISS ALICE E. LEE Business Secretary 




ARLY in the Welfare game the Y. M. C. A. realized the 
important part which athletics would of necessity play 
in keeping the great American doughboy as contented 
and physically fit as possible for him to be while quar- 
tered in foreign lands with natural home-land restric- 
tions and limitations more or less removed. "Of necessity" because 
these men came from a land which believed first and foremost in phy- 
sical fitness; where athletic exercises and games had played an im- 
portant part in their life from the "pom-pom pull-away" and "scrub 
baseball" of grammar school, through high school and college athletics, 
to the big league baseball, inter-collegiate meets and national com- 
petitive events, and whose sons had won so high a place in international 
athletics. It was the aim of the Athletic Department of the Y. M. C. A. 
to keep a maximum number of men engaged in the various forms of 
athletics for a maximum period. 

The functioning of the Athletic Department, Y. M. C. A., A. E. C, 
began in earnest about January, 1919, thirteen "Y" secretaries labor- 
ing under three great handicaps — poor weather, lack of equipment and 
lack of transportation — to provide athletic amusement for 250,000 
men at that time located throughout the newly opened area known as 
the American Embarkation Center. Those were the great days — when 
the game of starting an athletic program against the almost unsur- 
mountable odds, was a game which had a pecliar appeal to the type of 
"Y" Athletic Secretaries who had undertaken it. Hardened athletes 
themselves, they got into the game with but one possible end in view — 
to win all along the line. One pine table and one rickety chair in one 
room at "Y" headquarters started their office: one room about 25 



78 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 









TYPICAL ATHLETIC OCCASIONS 
1. Boxing Bout, Forwarding Camp. 2. Football at Ecommoy. 3. Boxing in Town Square 
at Ecommoy. 4 and 5. Baseball at Cla.ssification Camp 



In the Le Mans Area 79 

feet square containing about enough athletic equipment for one brigade, 
WJ5 the first warehouse: there was one wheezing Ford touring car 
which could be coaxed to run part of the time — and walking was far 
from good. But the rest of the equipment was best of all — a lusty, 
healthy ambition to promote the maximum amount of athletics in the 
A-. E. C, with the slogan "Every doughboy booting the ball!" 

The first step was to secure Army cooperation and assistance — G. O. 
No 241 made it necessary for the Athletic Director to work through 
and with the Athletic Officer of the A. E. C, before any substantial 
program in athletics could be promoted. A call at Army Headquarters 
brought the discovery that no athletic officer had ever been appointed, 
and the Y. M. C. A. was unable to take any action until this was done. 
Captain C. C. Childs, now Major, of the 37th Division, was at last 
secured in this capacity, and he reported for duty March 7. Much of 
the success of the Y. M. C. A. athletic program was due to the co- 
operation of the Army and the willingness to help which was shown 
at all times. Praise is also due to the fifteen soldiers detailed from the 
Army, who did such excellent work as drivers, warehouse men and 
assistants in various departments. 

The game was now on in earnest. The Athletic Department had 
begun to make itself known in the region, the demands for supplies 
grew rapidly, and the working quarters and equipment proved very 
inadequate to meet the demand. For a time the second floor of 73 Rue 
Chanzy acted as headquarters for the department, but the warehouse 
problem led to a search for quarters which could accommodate the 
entire athletic staff under one roof. This was finally located — a defunct 
wine distillery which gave a large office space, two large rooms for 
warehouse purposes, and a large court yard to house transportation. 
This last matter had been solved quite satisfactorily by adding to the 
"wheezy" Ford touring car of early winter, a one-ton truck, five cam- 
ionettes, five Ford touring cars and one Fiat touring car. Thanks to 
the never ceasing activity of the athletic secretaries, the athletic equip- 
ment had also grown in proportion — at an expense of energy and time 
of manufacture hard to realize. But at last the Athletic Department 
was "all set" to play the game to a finish, with an organization capable 
of handling any quantity of men that might come into the area, up 
to 500,000. 

But the solving of the problems had only begun. Athletic pr-Q;rams 
had to be mapped out — the problem to be faced being to arrange: j, 
program which could be put up in a hurry, carried through and broken 
up at a moment's notice. Many programs were mapped out and started 



80 History of thk Y. M. C. A. 

only to be smashed by the hurried movements of the troops, and the 
most successful program which was finally adopted promoted as many 
spectacular events as possible in the time, but put special emphasis 
upon informal games. It was finally decided to place particular em- 
phasis on the two most popular sports, baseball and boxing; the rapid- 
ity of troop movements — certain units of some divisions moving out 
before the last units of that division had moved in — making it impos- 
sible to push other sports. 

Throughout the area, 2 13 bas(iball fields have been in almost constant 
use. That is a bald statement of facts — behind which lurks days of 
grinding, sweaty toil on the part of the Y. M. C. A. athletic secre- 
taries who made these fields possible. It had been the aim of the Ath- 
letic Department to secure athletic fields in every town and village 
where troops were quartered — and to their credit be it said that the 
only places where fields were not obtained were those in which the 
topographical conditions did not grant space enough. The finest ath- 
letic field outside of Paris was built at Classification Camp, Le Mans, 
under the direction of a "Y" athletic secretary, who on his first visit 
to the field, discovered it to be about eight acres of ground covered 
with mud shoetop deep and water from six inches to a foot. It resembled 
Hog Island. With Army detail help, averaging 100 men per day, they 
had finished at the end of the twenty-first day, a track, football and 
soccer field, baseball field, basketball court, two tennis courts, a twenty- 
foot boxing ring; covered and fixed the camp roads, erected five large 
tents and ten small ones for use of the athletes, and built eleven grand 
stands. It was a struggle with wind and weather, the soldier details 
working the greater share of the time in hip boots and raincoats. 

Again, when the "Y" athletic secretary endeavored to promote an 
athletic meet for the permanent personnel of Forwarding Camp, of 
which he was athletic director, a field had to be built. His own words 
will best describe how this was done: "Promises were secured from 
military authorities to handle the grounds and engineering, but up to 
the last day nothing was done except to rake the ballfield and fill in 
some holes in the track. If the meet were to continue, some action was 
necessary, so the "Y" athletic director had to get busy. I got the line 
and measured and marked the nine lane tracks, the quarter-mile track, 
and marked all the distances. I laid out and dug the jumping pits, 
shot-put circle, baseball diamond, playground diamond, volleyball court, 
and quoit fields ; also the baseball throw, tug-of-war, and manufac- 
tured the equipiTient needed for same, just as if the Army did not 
exist. I did not do this, however, until it was self-evident that details 



In the Le Mans Area 81 

from the Army could not be secured." In the face of such determina- 
tion, it is not to be wondered that the Athletic Department put over so 
fine a program for the Y. M. C. A. in the American Embarkation 
Center. 

There came a time in the early spring when sunshine ceased to be a 
novelty, and the great American doughboy was seized with a bad case 
of baseball fever. Games were played in every conceivable place, 
mostly informal, and the divisional and camp Y. M. C. A. athletic 
secretaries found themselves very busily engaged in organizing and 
directing this great desire of the American youth in France. Sched- 
ules had to be short, because of the rapid movements of the troops, but 
Company, Regimental, Brigade and Divisional championships were 
staged in the area and some very good baseball was promoted. But the 
promotion of leagues was found necessary and all the camps in the 
area were organized under supervision of the camp directors. Detached 
units scattered about the area were also organized into leagues under 
the permanent directors of the areas in which their camps were sit- 
uated. The A. E. C. League was composed of teams from the larger 
camps and played a schedule in which each team played nine games. 
To represent the A. E. F. in the Inter-allied Games was the honor 
which fell to the American Embarkation Center team, known as the 
"Black Hawks," which was one of the first teams organized in this 
area. It was originally intended to make this an all-star team, but 
many of the camps disputed its right to represent the A. E. C. without 
clearly demonstrating that it was the best team in the region. Some of 
the best baseball promoted in the A. E. F. has been fought on the 
Class Camp field, and as game after game was won, many star players 
were added to the "Black Hawk" line-up. Victorious at home, the 
"Black Hawks" entered the lists for the baseball honor of the A. E. F. 
in the Inter-allied Games, and won the "Over Seas" flag. 

But the crowning feat in baseball was the promotion of a league 
among the colored troops in the Le Mans region. By dint of much 
hunting, eight camps of negro troops were found scattered in the 
towns around Le Mans, which were organized into a league known as 
the "Dixie League." Now this league wasn't the ordinary kind of a 
league — but don't think because it was a colored league that they 
couldn't play baseball, for they could. Almost every team in the Dixie 
League had one or more famous colored players in its line-up — men 
who had once starred on such clubs as "Rube Foster's American Giants" 
of Chicago, and other equally famous colored teams in the States. 
Some of the most enjoyable and interesting games in the Le Mans 



82 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

region were put on by these colored boys, which served not only as 
recreation and sport for them, but as entertainment for the white 
spectators. There was one Sunday in May which will ever stand out 
in the memory of the fortunate white boys who were located within 
walking distance of Class Camp, for the athletic secretary in charge 
of the Dixie League arranged to transport his entire eight teams to 
the Class Camp field to play off their final games. Now, when it 
comes to playing baseball, no matter how good he may be at the sport, 
the negro is a comedian par excellence. He has his own inimitable way 
of making funny remarks and doing funny things and whether he's 
rooting or whether he's playing, he's always fuimy and always original. 
This Sunday was no exception and for many a week after, the white 
population of Classification Camp were still chuckling at the memory 
of one of the most unique and mirth-provoking carnivals ever staged in 
the historj^ of the Yanks in France. 

While there is no question but that baseball will ever remain the 
sport nearest the American doughboy's heart, boxing, good boxing, has 
a strong appeal to the American soldier. The Athletic Department, 
realizing this, and working under G. O. No. 241, began early in the 
season to promote bouts purely for entertainment. 

During the inclement weather, matches were held indoors, in huts, 
barracks, auditoriums and theatres — many under the most difficult 
conditions. There were a number of places where no boxing could be 
held because of no available space, but an opportunity was never lost 
to put on either formal or informal bouts wherever possible. Gradu- 
ally, however, the weather opened up and the sunshine drove the boys 
into the open air. The matter of building out-door platforms — many 
times against the greatest odds — was taken up by the "Y" officials, 
and twenty-five boxing rings were established in the various centers 
where the largest number of troops could be reached. This was not 
done easily. The Y. M. C. A. as a welfare organization found itself 
severely handicapped in promoting this sport by a bitter competition 
with other welfare organizations, but notwithstanding this attitude was 
able to promote an amount of boxing which has never been surpassed 
anywhere. Concessions were granted which should have been unneces- 
sary, but the "Y" had the interest of the soldier at heart, and desired 
only that they might have the maximum amount of entertainment. All 
this time the eliminations for the A. E. F. championships were starting, 
and boxing increased almost miraculously. Eliminations were held 
everywhere. In the divisions the matches were held in the platoons, 
companies and regiments, and in a big meet the divisional champion- 



In the Le Mans Area 83 

ships were decided. In the camps, the same system was worked to 
determine the best men in the area — all these being conducted by the 
united effort of the Army officers and the "Y" athletic directors. No 
other welfare organization had any part in these elimination events 
because a careful study of the conditions proved that the "Y" was the 
only organization with a sufficient number of men in the field to pro- 
mote such a program. 

Perhaps the most spectacular and entertaining boxing events were 
those staged in the bandstand in the Park des Jacobins where every 
Friday night the finest boxing program of the area gave the boys 
stationed in Le Mans and their visitors something to remember and 
talk about until the next show. No one could attend one of these 
bouts without realizing their exceptional value as a means of enter- 
tainment and diversion to the soldier. Park des Jacobins, once a part 
of a Roman ampitheatre, with its wonderful arching high above the 
terraces, so arranged that thousands could witness the boxing events 
without obstructing the view of the others, was a most interesting 
sight. As many as 18,000 men at one time have witnessed the boxing 
entertainment in this park, which should be sufficient testimony to the 
popularity of boxing among the A. E. F. 

The reader might readily gather from the foregoing paragraphs 
that the Y. M. C. A. Athletic Department was pajdng attention to 
nothing but baseball and boxing, but this war far from the truth. It is 
a little bit difficult to realize that these athletic secretaries were han- 
dling a situation which had never before been equalled in the number 
of participants, spectators, and variety of athletic sports demanded. 
One is accustomed to believe that the yearly athletic program of our 
biggest colleges at home embraces the expenditure of a huge amount 
of money to say nothing of the time and training necessary to prepare 
for the events. In this connection also, the athletic fields and stadiums 
are a part of the college equipment and one is not likely to figure them 
except in the general overhead column. Imagine then, if you can, a 
body of men twice outnumbering the total enrollment of our six big- 
gest colleges combined, who, unlike the students referred to, had no 
regular schedule of work into which their athletics fitted as a recrea- 
tion, but for whom time was something which hung heavily on their 
hands. They were bored, tired, disgusted and discouraged men, and 
they had to be kept busy physically or their mental condition would 
grow rapidly worse. Even then, the problem would not have been so 
complex had there been ready the necessary athletic fields and equip- 
ment. But this had to be provided at the expense of time, labor and 



84 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

money not to be reckoned in words. The promotion of the baseball 
and boxing alone was a huge task, but in addition there were some 
very much worth-while events in the track and field, soccer and Rugby 
football, basketball and wrestling. Hut secretaries and women work- 
ers were impressed into service as potential athletic directors and the 
Athletic Department is much indebted to them for the amount of games 
they were able to promote. No group was too small nor conditions 
too hard but some form of activity was promoted. No matter what 
part of the area was visited, it was impossible to travel very far with- 
out finding boys engaged in some recreational activity. Here, two boys 
playing catch, pitching quoits, or tossing the basketball. Further on, 
larger groups at volleyball, indoor baseball, etc., in the village squares, 
streets or yards, boxing, and such activities going on in the billets and 
barracks. It is very hard to record this form of activity, but the 
Athletic Department made it its business to see that every hut secre- 
tary included athletic supplies in his equipment, and from the condi- 
tion in which this equipment was in when salvaged, it is safe to assume 
it was used almost continuously. 

It was left to the 26th Division to put on one of the most unique 
athletic meets ever staged in this area — unique in that the events were 
entirely of a mass type with the exception of the boxing, football and 
tug-of-war. All other events were squad, platoon or company. Of the 
purely military events nothing was left out which a soldier was sup- 
posed to know or do, in which events nearly 3,000 men were com- 
peting at one time. There was an eight kilometer company march, 
equipment race, gas mask race, mental alertness race and ten pitch- 
ing, while relay races, football passing and other purely athletic 
stunts added an interesting note. Great care had been taken in organ- 
izing the athletic work of the Division and in choosing the officials, 
whose work had to be accurate and speedy, as only three days' train- 
ing was given the men who were to compete. The morning of the meet 
dawned with everything set to start the schedule of the meet, which 
called for three days of competitions to end at a certain hour on the 
third day. The meet closed two minutes ahead of schedule, and a 
clock could not have run with greater smoothness, and 30,000 spec- 
tators pronounced it the snappiest and most interesting athletic spec- 
tacle so far produced in the area. 

Just before the close of February, word was received that the 
American Embarkation Center was to be represented in the A. E. F. 
championships by a team of its own instead of being part of the S. O. 
S., as was originally planned. Less than five weeks was the time given 



In the Le Mans Area 



85 




DIVERSIFIED ATHLETICS 
I' ^A ^r.- S. Championship. 2. General Pershing Trap Shooting at Belgian Camp. S and 5. 
S. O. S. Championship. 4. Basket ball, Class Camp. 6 and 7. Boxing, Jacibins (hardens 



86' History of the Y. M. C. A. 

in which to pick teams in soccer and Rugby football, basketball, boxing, 
wrestling and track, and in which to run the elimination events. It was 
actually March 10 before any real action could be taken for getting 
men and materials together, owing to the fact that there was no athletic 
officer and the Y. M. C. A. organization was in its infancy. Time was 
short and topnotch speed was required to put the job across. The "Y" 
had 23 athletic secretaries, out of which 12 gave practically their full 
time to the working up of the A. E. C. meet. The Army had eight 
officers who were giving all the time they could spare; the K. of C. 
had one athletic secretary, giving his full time, and the other welfare 
organizations had no one to help. 

Classification Camp Athletic Field, now the finest in the entire 
region, had to be built ; materials of all kinds were needed, the biggest 
share of them being manufactured for the occasion ; a French mechanic 
at the eleventh hour manufactured a fairly good hammer; javelins 
were ordered made and after great difficulty in securing hard wood for 
the javelin stick, bamboo poles were discovered and made into very 
satisfactory implements ; several trips to Paris secured running shirts, 
track shoes, soccer uniforms, vaulting poles, etc., and preparations for 
the meet began to shape up. One of the welfare organizations had 
promised to supply a certain number of shirts, running pants and 
shoes, but when called upon to deliver same, were unable to do so, and 
the Y. M. C. A. made up the deficiency. More than 95 per cent of all 
equipment used at this meet was furnished by the Y. M. C. A. But the 
three days of the meet, March 27, 28 and 29, were wonderful days 
which more than repaid the extraordinary eif ort which had to be made 
to make this meet possible. There were 11 bands competing; ten in- 
fantry companies drilled, and seven squads pitched tents against time 
as side attractions to the regular athletic events in football, baseball, 
basketball, boxing, track and field. For two days the rain poured and 
the men toiled under most adverse conditions. The third day saw the 
sun occasionally breaking through the heavy clouds, but when evening 
closed over the muddy, rain-soaked field, there was a huge sigh of 
relief from all participants. Major General Read, Commanding Officer 
of the A. E. C. at that time, presented medals furnished by the Y. M. 
C. A., to the winning athletes of the various events, saying in his ad- 
dress to them: "The A. E. C. athletic and military tournament was a 
triumph. I am proud of the spirit shown by the contestants. When I 
saw the men competing in the drizzle and slush, I felt a thrill I shall 
never forget." 

Too much thanks cannot be oft'ered to the French people, especially 



In the Le Mans Area 87 

the military authorities, for the manner in which they cooperated with 
the Athletic Department of the Y. M. C. A. in the promotion of all 
kind of athletics. Early in the season, when the Americans were strug- 
gling to find space on which to build their athletic fields, the French 
came forward with the offer of the Velodromede Beaulien or, as it 
was commonly called, French Field, for the use of our troops. The 
"Y" was permitted to use the field every week day, and, in conjunction 
with the French, on Sunda3^s. It consisted of a concrete bicycle track, 
-iOO-metre cinder track, 100-yard straight-away, jumping pits, weight 
circles, two tennis courts, football field, and baseball diamond with 
grand stand and dressing rooms — an ideal field beautifully located, and, 
coming as it did, it was a boon to the Americans. In addition to this 
field there were three other French fields used by the Americans, dur- 
ing their stay in this region, for local sports. The good spirit thus 
started between American and French in the athletic field led to the 
first Franco-American meet ever held in the A. E. F., which took place 
on Sunday, April 20. At the invitation of the French the Americans 
joined in a dual athletic meet, being more than glad of this oppor- 
tunity to try their skill against that of the French. The meet was 
confined to track events, the Americans winning every heat but one, 
and taking all medals except one second place. In spite of this appar- 
ent one-sidedness, however, the spirit of the occasion was one of clean 
competition and good sport, while a friendly and appreciative French 
audience did much to help the visiting Americans to a better under- 
standing of this side of their French ally. All American officials at 
this meet were Y. M. C. A. Athletic Directors. 

It is a matter of fact that the courtesj^ of the French officials has 
made the work of the Athletic Department in the A. E. C. much 
pleasanter than could be possibly expected. The relationships with 
both the civil and military French authorities have been most cordial, 
and perfect harmony has existed at all times. The debt of gratitude is 
one which has been repaid in but a small way. The French officials 
have given everything they possessed to make the athletic program a 
success — the use of their fields, their theatres and their parks; they 
have loaned us athletes and the French boxers have entertained many 
thousands of our soldiers. To repay these favors the "Y" has supplied 
athletes, equipment and music to the French events, putting on base- 
ball and football matches for the French on their holidays and Sun- 
days. Nevertheless, the score stands in their favor — and no courtesy 
should be overlooked in demonstrating the Y. M. C. A.'s appreciation 
of the treatment received while on French soil. 



88 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

The Athletic Department of the A. E. C. withoat doubt put over the 
biggest program in its line in the whole A. E. F. Beginning, as it did 
in January, 1919, with hardly enough equipment, personnel, etc., to 
take a long breath, it gathered momentum as time went on until there 
was no other organization which had as many men engaged or en- 
tertained as the "Y." During its six months of operation over 3,000,- 
000 men were engaged in athletics; 7,000,000 were entertained; 12 
different nations received benefits from the athletic programs ; approxi- 
mately 80,000 pieces of athletic material, valued at $175,000, was 
issued, etc. 

But figures cannot tell the stor}-. It will be told for years to come 
by boys who were kept occupied, who were equipped to participate in 
the athletic programs, whose weary wait for the big trip home was 
made a bit less boresome by the interesting events he could take part 
in or witness. By boys whose minds and bodies were kept wholesomely 
occupied, and who found that the athletic secretaries had a freindly 
interest in them and their tastes and desires. Men who returned to 
their homes clean and physically fit, because of the opportunity given 
them to play in congenial surroundings. No, figures do not count in the 
summing up of this service — but the Red Triangle never stood for a 
better or broader work, a work productive of more far-reaching results, 
than this ; a work which taxed every member of its personnel, which 
drew from them the very best they had to give, but which was given 
with a spirit of earnest service, with a vision of the splendid citizenship 
awaiting these men in the homeland, and for which they must be kept 
strong and clean. 

ATHLETIC STATISTICS 

PARTICIPANTS 

Jan. Feb. March April May June 

Baseball 404 1,008 56,849 195,014 388,822 232,293 

Indoor Baseball 1,076 5,643 26,437 35,498 53,115 31,869 

Basketball 2,600 1,750 13,404 15,817 17,441 10,464 

Boxing 1,600 3,000 4,183 2,148 5,806 3,483 

Football .59,600 107,100 65,487 17,182 32,892 

Quoits 4,911 19,457 40,812 24,481 

Setting Up 94,720 276,935 153,325 38,345 45,150 

Tennis 3,690 2,125 8,114 6,491 

Track and Field Vollev 

Ball .'. 2,800 5,500 17,867 42,228 46,681 18,672 

Wrestling 1,650 1,567 953 106 741 

Informal 33,784 95,469 153,325 269,156 121,2.59 97,007 

Swimming 46,460 63,000 

Gymnastics 3,700 1,480 

Totals 198,234 497,972 508,371 640,271 818,130 491,680 



In the Le Mans Area 



89 



SPECTATOES 



Jan. 

Baseball 2,424 

Indoor Baseball . . 2,394 

Basketball 3,490 

Boxing 192,000 

Football 119,200 

Qiioits 

Tennis 

Track and Field 

Volley Ball 1,760 

Wrestling 5,400 

Informal 



Feb. 


March 


April 


May 


June 


7,056 


339,630 


569,548 


1,030,560 


618,.306 


10,967 


39,645 


54,520 


89,415 


53,649 


1,963 


15,671 


18,875 


17,505 


10,503 


360,000 


488,745 


257,370 


347,045 


314,340 


214,200 


130,974 


23,040 


7,893 






6,743 


22,800 


37,307 


186,653 




22,140 


14,506 


26,900 


21,520 




31,760 


13,150 


26,090 


13,040 


2,563 


3,472 


49,025 


48,940 


16,312 


15,760 


3,472 


4,050 


16,700 






19,345 


82,350 


84,965 


50,979 



Totals 



326,668 602,509 1,101,597 1,108,934 1,034,640 1,017,302 



ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT ISSUED 



Item 



Baseballs 

Baseball Bats 

Baseball Masks 

Catchers' Mits 

Body Protectors 

First Basemen's Mits 

Indicators 

Indoor Balls 

Volley Balls 

Nets,' Volley Ball 

Volley Ball Bladders. 

Basketballs 

Basketball Goals .... 
Rugby Footballs .... 

Soccer Balls 

Fielders ' Mits 

Boxing Gloves (sets) 

Medicine Balls 

Tug of War Ropes . . 
Boxing Ring Ropes.. 

Iron Quoits 

Cage Balls 

Play Ground Balls... 

Tennis Balls 

Tennis Racquets .... 

Tennis Nets 

Tennis Shoes 

Basketball Uniforms. 
Football Uniforms . . 

Baseball Pants 

Baseball Shirts 

Track Pants 

Track Shirts 

Track Shoes 

Bases 



Jan. 

36 
10 



260 

2,710 

270 

75 

80 

28 



Feb. 

72 
20 
14 
10 
14 
10 



175 

325 

4,755 

600 

2.50 

150 

65 

15 

25 



March 

2,160 
590 
575 
775 
625 



1,576 
5.50 1,840 
250 1,420 



1,510 

1,820 

1,910 

1,725 

375 

240 

150 

35 

110 

100 



Totals 3,824 7,382 17,586 24,005 11,758 3,592 69,150 



50 



April 

15,072 
954 
239 
239 
2.50 
225 

435 

285 
285 

140 

435 

572 

381 

3,000 

1,707 

101 

25 

11 

25 

15 

92 

87 
18 
15 

20 
64 
64 
60 
60 
29 



May 

7,790 
980 
256 
203 
157 
187 



51 
108 
56 
12 
34 



811 

172 

38 

11 

27 

258 
57 
30 
22 
16 
76 
8 
70 
70 
25 
25 



June 

1,564 
468 
49 
66 
12 
49 

42 






18 



350 
45 
30 
20 
11 
63 

125 
60 
50 
25 
50 
40 
10 
50 
50 
50 
50 
12 
20 



Total 

26,694 
3,022 
1,138 
1,300 
1,063 
478 

3,261 

3,058 

2,115 

108 

2,149 

2,632 

9,952 

2 279 

4^861 

2,394 

412 

106 

157 

215 

15 

.383 

209 

167 

65 

81 

116 

221 

184 

184 

135 

135 

41 

20 



pM^-=^Wfr.W^«l!— -JH 


w 



90 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

ENTERTAINMENT DEPARTMENT 
PERSONNEL 

MADISON COREY — Regional Director 

H. A. HUDSON ..General Manager Activities 

V. O. WINKENWEDER___ - Publicity 

GLEN VORE - Personnel 

HE HISTORY of "Entertainment" for the American 
soldier by the Y. M. C. A. must necessarily be a com- 
bined rei3ort of Y. M. C. A. and Army service, due to 
the fact that the A. E. F. Show World was so closely 
combined in the two factors serving. 
In telling the growth of entertainment in the A. E. C, it is neces- 
sary to include a period which precedes the actual date which the his- 
tory is intended to cover and furnish a synopsis of the first candle 
circuit in the A. E. C, with booking offices on the top floor of the A. E. 
C Headquarters Building or the Senior Chaplain's office which acted as 
a clearing house for both Army and "Y" entertainers. This booking 
office had its inception immediately after the signing of the Armistice 
and although its wheel of houses was small indeed, it was the nucleus of 
the greatest amusement forces which served the A. E. F. Each week 
found several Y. M. C. A. concert parties in from Paris and talent was 
being recruited and formed into additional Army shows from the per- 
sonnel which then formed the A. E. C. 

Just three days before Christmas the A. E. C. Central Booking Office 
was moved to 67 Rue Chanzy, Le Mans, which became widely known 
as "Entertainment House," an a spot which actually became historic 
from a newsj)aper angle. Assuming as it then did, a single separate 
unit. Entertainment House became suddenly the vendor of one of the 
most essential activities of a soldier's life, whose mind had suddenly 
been averted from an objective which had been accomplished. The 
highest Army officials have commended the theatre as being the greatest 
single factor in maintaining the morale in men. 

Although the personnel of Entertainment House was still small 
when the home was founded, gigantic plans were laid which rapidly 
materialized. Christmas Day found all forces ready to furnish abund- 
ant amusement to the hungry soldiers. There was a continuous program 
at Base Hospital No. 52 and a continuous show at the Salle des Con- 
certs, one of Le Mans' larger theatres which became historic as one 
of the first French theatres occupied by the Americans. 

With the first of 1919 a newer and more comprehensive program for 



In the Le Mans Area 91 

amusing the thousands of homegoing men was laid. Hundreds of 
entertainers were arriving from the States to tour the A. E. F.. for 
the Y. M. C. A. and O. T. T. L. and the U. S. Army had instituted a 
systematic program for organization of additional show troops from its 
talented personnel. 

y. M. C. A. Headquarters at Paris realized that the Le Mans Region 
was the largest in the A. E. F., and that here there must be a concen- 
tration of effort. On January 15 Madison Corey, a New York City 
theatre manager, arrived at Entertainment House to manage the 
program for the Y. M. C. A. Appreciating not only the heavy re- 
sponsibilities but the great possibilities which entertainment held in 
the life of the soldier, Mr. Corey immediately laid the foundation for 
what S. O. S. Headquarters of the American Army at Tours reported 
as being the largest producing machine of the A. E. F. A report 
for the month of January stated four Y. M. C. A. playing troupes and 
about a half-dozen Army shows. These, with transient groups of 
players from the various home-going divisions played about six hun- 
dred shows during the month to a total audience not exceeding a 
hundred thousand men. The value of the words, amazing growth in 
the A. E. C. Show World, may be appreciated when the figures men- 
tioned for the month of January are compared with those for the 
month of April, when there were ^250 performances given to a com- 
bined audience of more than 3,500,000, and in May when there were 
.'591 i performances to an attendance of over 2,800,000. 

Of course, this remarkable feat was attended with many interesting 
tales of trouping the gasoline circuit by the fliver route. Theatres were 
scarce and shows were played in huts, tents, on trucks, in the open on 
tables and possibly even in the loft of some French barn or stable. 
What professional actor or actress ever thought as they leaned over 
the glistening footlights of a metropolitan theatre, to an audience 
robed in tulle and lace, that their's was to be the privilege of trouping 
France in rain and mud, mimicking and making merry for the victorious 
soldiers of our country ! It is a tribute to the professional entertainer, 
that his experience in the American Show World doing one night 
stands after this metropolitan engagement, enabled him to with- 
stand the hardship of a French Winter of rain and go on continuously. 
Sickness among the professionals was rare and it was an indomnitable 
spirit which many times sent them in their ride of miles to a flapping 
tent in wind or rain, where they sang and danced behind candles on a 
rickety stage for boys who might otherwise not have been able to write 
home and tell mother, "It's a long wait, but everything's fine, shows 



92 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

every night, with girls and all." 

In Le Mans proper there were more than a dozen show houses open 
to the American soldier after April 1, whereas the French could at 
no time have boasted more than three. It was about the middle of 
March that the magnificent Municipal Theatre was thrown open to the 
soldiers with the best productions and at all times free. The first Amer- 
ican show to grace these boards was the Argonne Players of the 77th 
Division, a show which itself has a historic record. 

Entertainment House was not, however, just a clearing house or 
booking agency for traveling shows of the Y. M. C. A. and Army. It 
became known as the largest "Play Factory" in the A. E. F. Three 
of the most successful shows which have toured the A. E. F., and the 
largest single production were staged in that home of fun. The "Lc 
Mans Players" in "Under Cover," was one of the best stock companies 
in France. These players were recruited from the ranks of the O. T. 
T. L., and Canteen workers of the Y. M. C. A. and soldier talent. 
Later "Wildfire" was presented, which was the most remarkable at- 
tempt at American play production, due to the extreme care required 
in picking a cast to qualify for the parts and situations. Both of these 
shows enjoyed long runs over the A. E. F. circuit. The "Le Mans All 
Star Frolic," the name adopted by a caste of "All Star Acts," com- 
prised one of the most novel bills of amusement afforded anywhere and 
was a show which might easily have graced the boards of our best 
vaudeville houses in America. There were, of course, many other all- 
soldier shows which were produced under the direction of Y. M. C. A. 
assistants and were equipped for presentation by the Y. M. C. A. 
Several of these shows comprised the oldest soldier units in the A. E. 
F. and received commendory citations from commanding officers at 
various points for the excellency of their efforts. The biggest under- 
taking of this sort was a pageant, "The Funeral of Athelstane," given 
by Battery A, 304th Field Artillery, 77th Division, at Pirmil, a great 
medieval pageant in which every man of Battery A, 304 Field Artillery 
of the 77th Division participated, and was staged in a snug valley 
of the rolling hills surrounding Pirmil, France, on Tuesday, March 25. 
Just after noon, with the sunglancing from the shining spears, the pro- 
cession presenting the entii'e tourgae for the funeral of Athelstane 
swung down the road from the Chapel of Copenhurst to the Castle 
of Coningsburg, where the regular rites of funeral ceremonies and 
the barbeque were to be held. There were over three hundred American 
soldiers in the parade representing in order of march, Acieric Knights, 
Archers, Horsemen, Ladies of the Household, Norman Footmen, and 



In the Le Mans Area 93 

Saxons^ all arrayed in the garments of the day with accoutrements. 

Upon arrival at the Castle Coningsburg, the body of Athelstane was 
placed in state and in honor of the late deceased, a great conclave en- 
sued, in which every native in the countryside came to pay homage to 
the death of the noble hero. 

As the program for the funeral of Athelstane announced the "Order 
of ye Events" was as follows: 

Procession. Combat Dance of Ferric Men at Arms. Manouvres of 
Norman Foot Troops. Dance of Ye Saxons, Combats of Stannic 
Knights and Men at Arms. Sports of Ye Yoemanry. Adjourn to Ye 
Castle. Eating of Ye Baked Meats and Drinking of Ye Meade. 
Music and Entertainment in Further Honor of Ye Deceased. Inter- 
macion de Cadaver de Athelstane. 

Armor, helmets, coats of mail, visors and swords borne by men in 
medieval costumes, clashed and glittered in the afternoon sun and 
"Ivanhoe" seemed to be re-enacted before you by a lot of doughboys 
whose homes were in great old New York City, where the clash and 
clang of the busy streets were the only sounds of their stage. With tin 
of packing boxes, armor and helmets had been smithed. Monks' robes 
were made from shelter halves, rafia formed the wigs and the American 
rifle was affected into crossbars. 

This entire production was made possible through the cooperation of 
the Y. M. C. A. and the numerous costumes and equipment which were 
secured and furnished with great effort due to the care required in 
assuming the proper interpretation of the period. 

That there was an excellent morale among the entertainers them- 
selves may be seen from a tale which came from the Central Hut, Le 
Mans, which was the scene of the famous "Midnight Frolics." A clip- 
ping from the Le Mans Theatre Magazine "Life," reads as follows: 
"The occasion was commonly known as the 'Midnight Frolics' at 'Y' 
Central Hut, uptown, and it was the actors' little get-together just 
before catching the necessary forty winks. 'Midnight Frolics' became 
quite the thing and you weren't in it unless you were known by your 
first name in the 'Garden of Fun and Frolic' Each night found 
Muggeridge, Jenkins, Anne Lucky, Winnie, Hinda Hand, Joyce, 
Rappleye, Pantzer and many other favorites vamping nightly for the 
pleasure of those who dared the midnight drops of rain. 

"Soon the Frolics outgrew the crowded hut and Saturday nights 
found them at the Salle des Concerts. Here all the live wires gathered 
for the Saturday night's fun, which had covered the usual round when 
back on Broadway. Rooftoppers were topped and Ziegfield might 




»^^iMBi»- 










1. Playing to a Packed House: Taken at 7:30 P. M. 2. Miclnight Frolics at Central Hut. 
4. Entertainment, Double Hangar, at Belgian Camp. 5. Olrl Theatre at Belgian Camp 



In the Le Mans Area 



95 



have chosen some new stars to twinkle atop the Amsterdam, could he 
have caught one of these doughboy frolics. And just then Mr. Weath- 
erman changed his program, the sun does duty until almost three- 
quarters day and we all went in for the wilds and the great outdoors." 

Entertainment House is, of course, the recognized name which covers 
the home of the "Y" and Army Theatre. Both the Y. M. C. A. and 
Army had its well organized details in charge. Madison Corey acted as 
Director for the Y. M. C. A., and Lieutenant C. C. Young, Entertain- 
ment Officer for the Army. There was a perfect coordination of 
forces and to say the least Entertainment House formed a model com- 
bination of an up-to-date "Play Factory" and booking office. 

Without question entertainment was one of the most valuable forces 
in the life of the soldier after the signing of the Armistice. The A. 
E. F. Theatre has been commended as being the greatest builder of 
morale available. The benefits, however, have been manifold. The 
American stage has profited greatly by its experiences abroad and 
much new talent has been brought out by the encouragement it re- 
ceived. The American was taught a new appreciation for that which 
was refined and classic and the stage was elevated to a new and higher 
plane. 

ENTERTAINMENT STATISTICS 

No. of No. Entertain- Attend- 

Months Stations Expense ments ance 

December 75 Fr. 5,130.10 225 200,000 

January 75 3,705.20 1,000 680,000 

February 110 8,172.50 1,307 800,000 

March 175 61,601.51 2,554 1,750,000 

April 175 83,278.45 4,250 2,044,000 

May 175 129,436.15 3,914 2,040,000 






96 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES 

Headquarters Entertainment Officer, A. E. C. 

Le Mans, France, June 19, 1919. 

From: Captain W. H. Faulk, Entertainment Officer, A. E. C. 
To: The Commanding General, A. E. C. (through channels). 

Subject: Consistory report entertainment activities in detail. 

1. Fifteen road shows have been produced and routed from this 
section since July, 1918, those being major performances and going 
on circuit. In addition to these approximately 150 lesser units, such 
as orchestras and two, three, four and five-men acts, have been formed 
from time to time for inter-area activity and some of these have been 
given inter-area routings. 

2. In the following summary of activities "show" is taken to be 
road show, or unit larger tlian five persons. 

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES 



Month Year 

July 1918 

August 1918 

September 1918 

October 1918 

November 1918 

December 1918 

January 1919 

February 1919 

March .' 1919 

April 1919 

May 1919 

June (two weeks) 1919 

Totals... 15,401 15 9,646,425 

REPORT OF ACTIVITIES— BASE SECTION— LE MANS 

No. No. Stations 

Stations Enter- Soldier Y. M. C. A. Attend- 

Month in Section tained Shows Shows ance 

January 75 75 400 300 650,000 

February 110 110 450 366 800,000 

March ". 175 175 1,000 800 1,750,000 

April 175 175 1,500 950 2,044,915 

May 175 175 1,492 1,375 2,540,816 

To June 15th 95 95 900 796 1,225,900 



Number 


Number 






Stations 


Perform- 


New Shows 


Attend- 


Entertained 


ances 


Formed 


ance 


6 


30 


1 


20,000 


10 


50 





50,000 


16 


75 





85,000 


30 


100 





93,000 


50 


200 





130,000 


75 


225 


1 


800,000 


75 


1,000 


4 


680,000 


110 


1,507 


3 


200,000 


175 


2,564 


3 


1,750,000 


175 


4,250 


1 


2,044,915 


175 


3,914 


3 


3,540,815 


95 


1,696 





1,225,000 




In the Le Mans Area 97 

CINEMA IN THE A. E. C. 

PERSONNEL 

S. W. FRIES - - Director 

EDNA MOSS-- ..Exchange Secretary 

W. B. HOPKINS - Supervisor 

D. M. BUTLER Belco Inspector 

M. L. LAWTON _ Belco Installator 

E. P. LEONARD Transportation 

CHAS. BAUMBACH- _ Assistant Supervisor 

NE of" the most valuable and interesting phases of Y. M. 
C. A. work in the A. E. C, and indeed among the entire 
American forces, was that carried on bj^ the Cinema 
Department. The Cinema forces consisted of scurrying 
bands of movie men who carried congealed comedies, 

dramas, and thrillers on celluloid to the lonesome men at the most 

outhdng area. 

The growth of the Cinema Department presents one of the mazing 
accomplishments for which the A. E. C. became famous. In November, 
1918, after the Armistice was signed, the first reels of American 
pictures, and two projectors arrived in Le Mans. At that time there 
was no special Y. M. C. A. Cinema Department and the responsibili- 
ty of showing these pictures in the area devolved upon the Entertain- 
ment Director. A force of six men was detailed to the "Y" by the 
xlrmy, and the actual directorship of bookings was carried on through 
the Senior Chaplain's Department on the top floor of what was later 
the A. E. C. Headquarters Building. It was at that time that the 
now historic Salle des Concerts of Le Mans became the first American 
movie house in the A. E. C, and with the thousands of moving troops, 
men lined for blocks each afternoon and evening to see their old 
favorites of "Maries" and Chaplins" cavorting in romance and comedy. 

With the advent of Entertainment House at 67 rue Chanzy, Le 
Mans, a special Y. M. C. A., directorship of movies was established, 
with Mr. Chas. Fox Rich in charge. It was on this same date that the 
first delcos arrived from Tours and outlying points were assured of 
their movie treat. 

In January, 1919, there were forty stationary projectors in the 
area and a total of sixty-five programs which were so booked that the 
maximum number of troops were allowed to enjoy them. Records 
show a total of 13 i performances for the month with an attendance 
of more than 75,000. 



98 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

There was continuous improvement of the Cinema equipment until 
in May, 1919, the central booking office of the Cinema Department in 
Le Mans had equipment consisting of 53 stationary projectors, 29 
portable machines with delco, and a hundred programs. With these 
facilities, a total of two thousand performances were presented to a 
combined attendance of 76,500. The banner week for movie shows in 
the A. E. C, was for the week of June 8 to June 14, when 464 shows 
were given. 

With the cessation of the rainy season in the spring of 1919 advan- 
tage was taken for outdoor movies, and what was known as the "Flying 
Squadron" came into evidence. This was a string of cars with delcos 
which nightly carried picture shows to the most remote areas where 
screens were placed on the side of a hut, or billet or possibly a frame 
held intact with a large army truck. At these shows every man in the 
area would gather around on the ground and get his treat of thrillers. 
In Le Mans there were out-door pictures on the Place de Repub- 
lique where they were projected on the Hotel Dauphin, and thousands 
of both Americans and French enjoyed them nightly. Other shows 
were given in the Pare de Jacobins, not to mention the performances 
in the many huts. 

The Cinema Department was under the direction of Mr. S. W. Fries 
since April 15th, who formerly was an inspector of the Delco service 
for the Y. M.' C. A. The concentrated endeavor to furnish the most 
and best was successful, and throughout the last three months almost 
perfect efficiency was attained. 

Many nights after a scheduled run of shows and a truck with portable 
delco would be returning to Le Mans, marching troops would be en- 
countered on the road. If arrangements could be made with the com- 
manding officer of the men, troops were halted, heavy packs were 
thrown aside and the men were given the same show which had already 
been given to other stationery units. A screen was fitted between trees, 
or against a truck and the portable delco backed away to play its cel- 
luloid actors. 

At other times a portable might draw up to a town where the voltage 
was entirely too high and it looked at first as though the personnel 
must go without their movie treat. Each truck, however, had its elec- 
trical expert and even though the extreme had to be resorted to, movies 
were shown. Possibly the pair of wires was run down the outside of 
a building, cross irons used and currents reduced, but in any event 
results were obtained. 

On one occasion the Cinema Department sent an S. O. S. Portable 



In the Le Mans Area 



99 



on a flying trip to every town between Le Mans and Paris where there 
were M. P. stations but' no regularly organized facilities for oflPering 
shows. In this way these outlying points all received their evening 
merriment delivered to the company street. 

CINEMA STATISTICS 

Jan. Feb. 

Stationary Machines . 40 45 

Portable Machines 3 

No. of Performances. 300 481 

Attendance Combined. 316,000 275,000 

Feet of Film Used 325,000 240,000 

Cost of Equipment ...$ 17,300 $ 20,350 $ 17,400 $ 53,800 $100,000 $100,000 

For month of June investment in films was 90 programs at $2.50 

each, or $22,500. 



March 


April 


May 


June 15 


51 


52 


81 


44 


2 


13 


29 


36 


754 


1,800 


2,047 


913 


585,000 


762,000 


954,000 


408,366 


275,000 


325,000 


100,000 


100,000 





ACTIVITIES IN LA SUZE AREA 

1. Theatre at Malicorne. 4. Reading Room. Malicorne. 2. Colored "Y," La Suze. 

3. Cocoa Boilers in Battle Array. 5, 6, 8. Mass Singing in the Open; "Y" Girl Leader. 

5. Preparations for Refreshments at Divisional Review 



100 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT 

PERSONNEL 

E. C. ALDER -- ..Area Adviser of Education 

JOHN C. COULTER _ 

Area Adviser of Agricultural Education 

O. N. SMITH Assistant Area Adviser of Education 

ROY FUNDERBURK.__ Magazines and Periodicals 

A. B VOSSLER Sight-seeing Trips 

FRANCIS J. PERKINS Sight-seeing Trips 

ERNEST YOUTZ Secretary 

AGNES LATIMER BACON Library 

MABEL OTIS Divisional Adviser of Education 

C. E. COSAND ...Divisional Adviser of Education 

D. O. ^^llAAiKUT ...Assistant Divisional Adviser Education 

H. C. OSTIEN... Assistant Divisional Adviser Education 

J. H. McBANE Divisional Adviser of Education 

O. C. BAKER Divisional Adviser of Education 

RUSSELL ]:>sFjLSO^ ..Assistant Divisional Adviser Education 
J. W. McGINNIS----^**i*<ani Divisional Adviser Education 
SAMUEL L. EBY... Divisional Adviser Education 

D. L. THOMAS---- Divisional Adviser of Education 

E. KARLSON ...Assistant Divisional Adviser Education 

A. J. FRY --- Divisional Adviser of Education 

A. B. COPE---- - ...Divisional Adviser of Education 

ROY ^ICiaOl^^.— Assistant Divisional Adviser Education 

C. L. LEE Assistant Divisional Adviser Education 

H. W. LANGWORTHY Divisional Adviser of Education 

J. S. WRAY --.- Divisional Adviser of Education 

W. E. WFjhl.OlS S....Assistant Divisional Adviser Education 



HORTLY ofter the signing of the Armistice^ when the 
Le Mlans region began to grow in importance and be- 
came the center for thousands of soldiers whose business 
in life had changed from active warfare to the monotony 
of awaiting transportation, the "Y" faced an unusual 
opportunity and challenge. Under the supervision of J. W. Powell of 
the University of Minnesota, later Field Supervisor for the Army 
Education Corps, G. H. Q., this challenge was taken up and through 
much hard labor, successfullv worked out. 




In the Le Mans Area 101 

There were usually difficulties to be overcome; in inaugurating an 
an educational programme of any value in this region — first, because 
of the constantly changing personnel of the troops ; second, because of 
the apathy shown at the start by many members of the army personnel ; 
and thirdly, because of the lack of proper text books, school rooms and 
teachers. 

There was, however, no question with regard to the craving of the 
men for mental improvement — there was daily growing stronger among 
the soldiers a mental unrest, which could only be satisfied by employ- 
ment that would lead to self advancement both here and back home. 

The establishment of an Educational System which would embrace 
the work of Grade, Grammer, High School and include Business and 
College courses as well, was the problem which the Educational De- 
partment undertook to solve. In late December there was secured from 
the Mayor of Le Mans the privelege of using the Ecole Pratique for 
evening classes. Women members of the Y. M. C. A. Educational Corps 
were in charge and the response to their efforts was astonishing and 
gratifying. 

The "Y" was finding an eagerness on the part of the men to enter 
into studies of all kinds. The school expanded rapidly until it became 
the Army Post and Divisional School, with a faculty of 15 teachers, 
and offering courses in 25 subjects, which included Arithmetic, Algebra, 
Trigonometry, Accounting, French, Spanish, Shorthand and Type- 
writing and Business Correspondence, Theory, (Music,) Harmony, 
(Music,) Public Speaking and Journalism — and there were even calls 
for classes in Economics and Law which, fortunately the "Y" was able 
to meet. 

But it was soon discovered that there was a branch of educational 
work for which there was an unusual demand and which the "Y" had 
not as yet touched. Ernest Coxhead announced the establishment of a 
School of Architecture at Le Mans on December 10, 1918. Registration 
was purely voluntary and the school opened on January 6, 1919 with 
a class of twenty men who reported on detatched service from their 
respective organizations by special orders from Divisional Head- 
quarters. 

The rooms in which these classes were held were located in theMu- 
nicipal Ecole de Dessin placed at the disposal of the school through the 
Mayor of Le Mans. 

One more phase of the educational challenge had been met by the 
"Y" but the promoters of the Architectural Branch were not satisfied to 



102 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

confine their efforts to a class room in a land so full of opportunity 
for first hand study of all types of architectural interest such as Char- 
tes, Chateau du Loir and Paris. Trips were made to those points which 
served a double purpose — a means of gaining knowledge and a pleas- 
ant change from the monotonous grind of soldier life. 

With the opening of Spring, the thoughts of many men turned to 
agriculture. The question "What are you going to do to help us make 
up our lost time ?" was continually being put to the educational " Y" 
secretaries by hundreds of American doughboys recruited from the 
soil. To meet it there was organized in the Le Mans area a School of 
Agriculture. Practically all the men in the 91st Division then located 
in the area were reached. Classes were held, lectures given, and as the 
movement grew, a successful series of Farmers' Institutes was conducted 
in the large camps about Le Mans, which was attended by about 
8,000 men. Ten clubs in agriculture were formed and Army reports 
show that by these drives, 15,000 men were reached; 500 men were 
enrolled in Farmers' Clubs, and at least 500 men taken to visit the 
noted French farms in the Department of Sarthe. 

No service which the Y. M. C. A. secretaries have rendered to the 
A. E. F. in France has apparently been more worth while than this 
agricultural movement. In view of the action taken by our government 
to furnish a way for these returning soldier boys to take up farm lands, 
the Y. M. C. A. can feel justly proud of the part it played in stimu- 
lating their interest and desire to take advantage of the opportunities 
offered. 

The Army personnel was gradually won over to full cooperation and 
it is certain that without their loyal support much of the force of this 
work would have been ineffective. In the early part of the game, the 
Army mimeographs were used to manufacture text-books, and tar 
paper and asbestos sheets served as black-boards ; tents were used as 
school rooms where college-bred buck privates directed classes in trig- 
onometry or taught illiterate soldiers to write their letters home. 

But the time came when the A. E. F. was free to take over the con- 
trol and responsibility from the Y. M. C. A. for the work of the Army 
Educational Commission. In this connection it is well to remember 
that the "Y" undertook the responsibility of establishing an Educa- 
tional system for the A. E. F., at a period when the Army itself had 
to dedicate its entire personnel and resources to the winning of the 
war. How well the Army considered that the "Y" had performed its 
task may be judged by the fact that when the Army Educational 



Tn the Le Mans Area 103 

Corps was established to relieve the "Y" of the educational respon- 
sibility, an urgent invitation was extended to the entire "Y" educational 
personnel to become members of this organization. And although each 
member of the educational staff originally enlisted in the Y. M. C. A., 
so eager were they to continue their service to the American soldiers 
that practically all became members of the Army Educational Corps. 

To supplement the strictly educational work in class and club, the 
Paris "Y" Headquarters sent forth a number of historical and popular 
lectures. In the last days of February, the urgent needs of this area 
were brought to the attention of the Y. M. C. A. Lecture Service 
Bureau and the best men available were sent into the field. During the 
six weeks from March 1 to April 15, about 500 lectures were given on 
all subjects from strawberry culture to potato bugs, and practically all 
the occupied points in the area were reached. 

This article must not close without special mention of what was 
perhaps the smallest branch of the "Y" educational programme, but 
one with far-reaching results. On March 1, the distribution of maga- 
zines and periodicals was placed under the direction of the "Y" Edu- 
cational Department. Immediate results followed, truck loads of the 
latest American and British magazines came into the area weekly, and 
through the establishment of a daily newspaper and magazine route 
were distributed into the hands of the doughboys. Bare tables in "Y" 
huts became thickly covered with magazines in their colorful bindings, 
but they did not stay long, for boys so long starved for this sort of 
reading, read them from cover to cover. Between 6,000 to 10,000 
copies of the Paris editions of the New York Herald, the Chicago 
Tribune and the London Daily Mail were distributed to the soldiers 
within two hours after their arrival from Paris. 

The educational challenge made by the American doughboys to the 
"Y" was successfully met. The value of the work done by this depart- 
ment will never be completely known, for it will reach into future 
generations. Hundreds upon hundreds of men who in normal circum- 
stances had never had either opportunity or desire for educational 
advantages, learned to appreciate their value, and were roused to a 
willingness to earn these privileges. This is one feature of the Y. 
M. C. A. overseas service that will bear fruit beyond the reach of 
statistical compilation, and which will return again and again to 
strengthen the organization. 



104 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 



NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE SERVICE 
Feb. 



Newspapers Jan. Feb. March 

New York Herald . . 25,000 35,000 50,000 
Chicago Tribune . . . 15,000 18,000 25,000 
Daily Mail 15,000 18,000 25,000 

These papers are distributed free. 

In addition to these the ' ' Stars and Stripes 



April May June Total 

75,000 155,000 105,000 385.000 

37,500 77,500 58,000 198,000 

37,500 77,500 58,000 198,000 

'Embarkation News" 



and ' ' The Forwarder ' ' have been for sale at all " Y " stations. 



MAGAZINES 

Total distributed of the following list: 
Jan. Feb. March April May 

3,000 3,000 22,000 32,500 20.000 



June 

15,00(1 



Total 

95,500 



SATURDAY EVENING POST 

COLLIERS 

WORLD'S WORK 

McCLURE'S 

COSMOPOLITAN 

ALL STORY 

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 

GRAPHIC 

PUCK 

LIFE 

SYSTEM 

GREEN BOOK 

ILLUSTRATION 

THE OUTLOOK 

'1 HE TIMES 

BUSINESS DIGEST 

PHOTO PLAY 

POPULAR MECHANICS 



LITERARY DIGEST 

EVERYBODY 'S 

POPULAR SCIENCE 

ATLANTIC MONTHLY 

MUNSEY 

SNAPPY STORIES 

LONDON ILLUSTRATED NEWS 

ASSOCIATION MONTHLY 

JUDGE 

SUNSET 

RED BOOK 

AMERICAN 

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN 

REVIEW OF REVIEWS 

THE BYSTANDER 

ARMY AND NAVY JOURNAL 

LESLIE'S 



EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS 

January February March April May Total 

Books Circulated . 325,762 360,870 418,320 308,760 287,590 1,701,302 

Ed'ctnal Lectures. 150 150 160 125 152 737 

Attendance 56,000 35,000 i0,000 36,000 45,000 213,000 

Agricultural 10) 

Institute ) 

Farmers' Club 500) March 20th to April .5th 

Members Reached. 15,000) 

Visits, Stock Farms 500) 

Travel Courses ... 1,080 1,080 1,080 1,080 4,320 

Walking Attend. . 720 720 720 720 2,880 

Buildings 35 95 99 (After April 15-Educational 

Dept. conducted by Army) 

Teachers 92 229 277 

Different Studies. 28 87 104 102 
Combined Days in 

Session 94 142 152 112 

Students on Roll. 1,556 7,407 11,060 3,491 

Combined Attend. 131,638 946,515 1,413.008 3-53,464 



In the Le Mans Area 105 

RELIGIOUS DEPARTMENT 
PERSONNEL 

ARTHUR U. HILTON Area Secretary 

R. D. ACHESON ...Associat? Area Secretary 

STEPHEN K. NEWHALL Office Assistant 

A. C. GILMORE Religious Literature Secretary 

C .C. GLEASON Mass Singing 

M. P. McCLURE :. ...Economy Area 

J. F. D. HOUCK .. La Suze Area 

H. N. RONALD Belgian Camp 

C. I. RAMSEY Classification Camp 

D. E. KELLEY — Fortaarding Camp 

R. M. HOOD .....Spur Camp 

MISS ELEANOR FLANSBURG "YD Hut" 

PAUL TURNER .....Central Hut 

WM. LATTIMORE ..Overhaul Camp 







O BRING to the men of the army, so far as the peculiar 
circmnstances and conditions would allow, the moral and 
spiritual influences that normally surround them at home 
was the aim of the Religious Department of the Y. M. 
C. A. in the Le Mans area. That the "Y" put over the 
programme successfully is evidenced when it is noted that from Jan- 
uary to June 15, 1919, a grand total of 81()i religious meetings were 
held with an attendance of 577,4-97; war roll decisions numbered 1545 
and three hundred and four Bible classes were held, with an attend- 
ance of more than 4700 men. 

The department gave every assistance and hearty cooperation to 
Army Chaijlains, who were the authorized religious leaders in the Le 
Mans Region. In one instance, a whole batallion of men was served 
bv a secretarv from the Department at the request of the Chaplain in 
charge of the religious work of the regiment. In another instance, two 
Chaplains were ordered to another Division and the "Y" was requested 
to care for their work. Substitutes for Chaplains, when on their vaca- 
tions, and in sudden emergencies, such as sickness, were provided. In 
one hut 700 copies of literature were placed on tables and 24 hours 
later over two-thirds of it had been taken away. 

The "Y" placed at the disposal of each Army Chaplain a library of 
20 volumes, which was highly appreciated. In addition, the whole of 
the religious literature of the department was at all times accessible 



106 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

to Chaplains, as well as to the men. The service was not limited by 
denominational bias. Jewish, Roman Catholic, Christian Science as 
well as Protestant Denominations were furnished space in "Y" huts and 
other centers of activity, and song books, music, communion services 
and other supplies were placed at their disposal. 

This department had as its goal the holding of, at least, two religious 
services each week in every place in the area where personnel and 
equipment allowed. One service was planned for Sunday and one on 
some night during the week. 

Tt was believed that the men would welcome a service definitely an- 
nounced as "Religious" and it was insisted that no subterfuge be used 
to entice the men to these services. Good music was secured when 
possible, vital Christian hymns sung and the message was of a defi- 
nitely religious nature. The meetings were advertised without cam- 
ouflage. At one service when the speaker had mistakenly used the occa- 
sion as an opportunity for telling some laughable stories, one of the 
young men expressed his disappointment because he had come with the 
expressed purpose of attending a religious service. 

In several cases where the advisability of holding such services 
was questioned, the matter was put to the men as to whether they de- 
sired an entertainment or a religious service and ninety per cent voted 
for the latter. 

In one place, permission was reluctantly given for one man to speak, 
but when the service was over he was invited to return and the men in 
the camp petitioned the officer in charge to see that he be returned 
for the second address. Many speakers averaged as large audiences 
as did the entertainers. 

Bible Classes 
.NE of the most worth-while services of the Religious Department 
was the organization of Bible Study Classes. In spite of the 
difficulty of a shifting population, many of these classes were organ- 
ized, in most cases with leaders from among the men themselves. 

A large number of camps were also conducting Sunday Schools with 
the secretaries as teachers. In one camp a class of Jewish men was 
taught from the Old Testament by a "Y" secretary. 

Hospital Work 

4T HOPSITAL No. 52, the department conducted a successful 
work for some time. On one Sunday, over 800 men promised to 
write letters home because of the urgent suggestion of the "Y" 
secretarv. 



In the Le Mans Area 107 

One day a young officer, who had had a numbei of Chinese soldiers 
under him in France, came to a "Y" secretary to find out how he might 
prepare himself to go to China as a missionary. Similar incidents have 
been frequent in the experience of the workers. 

Special Lines of Activity 

THE cooperation of the Activities Department of the Army and the 
Entertainment Department of the Y. M. C. A., made it possible 
for more than 200 services, attended by 27,000 men, to be held Friday, 
Saturday and Sunday of Easter week. A large number of special 
speakers and singers were provided and many men for the first time 
since they left home partook of the Lord's Supper. A uniform service 
was used. The total number of men partaking of communion was 4,124. 
Many men were confronted during the last weeks with problems 
concerning their moral lives and of the thousands of personal inter- 
views of Y. M. C. A. secretaries, none were reported in any way, yet 
they formed a large part of the service rendered to the men, which is a 
contribution that is really worth mentioning. 

Many inquiries came from America concerning men in this area and 
for some time one man from the department looked up men asked for, 
and got them in touch once more with the folks at home. Letters of 
appreciation from the people in America concerning this phase of the 
work were gratifying. 

The general program for the dedication of 20 huts in this area 
March 30 was a thing for which the department may be especially 
proud. 

Another feature of this department was to arrange for the presence 
of a group of Y. M. C. A. secretaries at all of American soldiers' 
funerals at Le Mans cemetery. 

Mothers' Day was an outstanding success with special meetings, 
afternoon parties, flower tokens in remembrance of mother and souve- 
nir postals by the thousands for the mothers of boys everywhere. 

One religious secretary in the La Suze area makes the following 
significant report of his experiences: "About 40,000 troops of the S. 
O. S. v.ere sent out into 40 towns for billeting viathout entertainment, 
without reading matter, without lights, without tobacco or candies, or 
almost anything that men wanted. At this time a large supply of army 
song books came within my reach and as transportation was available, 
I drove into these villages for a week, called the men around me, gave 
them song books— we all sang popular, patriotic and religious songs— 
and then I preached a short, plain, pointed sermon, closing with 
prayer." 



108 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 



"It was no uncommon thing for 75 per cent of the men to ask for 
prayer — sometimes as high as 95 per cent. I then gave the song books 
away — reading matter^ if I had it — writing paper and envelopes, and 
pulled into another town (repeating the process). I made as high as 
three towns after supper and four and five in a day. At one camp, we 
got in at 9:30 p. m., and before we could put on a service, taps were 
blown. The Colonel told us to take all the time we wanted — and three 
or four hundred stood listening attentively. At one town soldiers were 
asking for cigarettes to be sent and one young man came up and said: 
"Come back and preach to us; we need preaching worse than we do 
cigarettes." At the end of a week a folding organ and a good man 
to play it was added — and the work was made easy. I counted it the 
most religious opportunity of my lifetime. This was all open-air work 
— riffht in the street in the center of towns." 



RELIGIOUS WORK DEPARTMENT 

Jan. Feb. March April May June 

Eegular Service 250 637 1,098 624 650 470 

Itinerant Service 10 22 20 15 22 

Attendance 40,000 135,665 225,468 78,642 65,000 60,000 

Bible Study Class 57 156 99 85 24 

Attendance 4,070 7,201 5,091 4,063 1,832 

Literature Circulation 85,941 272,587 81,333 92,000 64,240 

Bibles Distributed 9,000 9,000 9,645 9,500 9,400 1,600 

Features — 

Easter 



Mothers ' Day 



AVar Eoll Decisions Signed. . . 

Other Decisions Signed 

Personal Eeliaious Interviews. 



200 Services 
27,000 in Attendance 

70 Services 
15,000 in Attendance 

440 

64 

425 



MASS SINGING 

WOKK OEGANIZED MAECH 20, 1919 

March April 

Number of books (small) 15,000 

Number of books (large) 50 100 

Number of Song Music ". 500 

Number of Sing Songs 30 180 

Number of Men Beached 19,000 46,000 

Leaders 4 3 

Accompanists 4 2 

Voluntary Leaders (Soloists and Ac- 
companists) 4 



May 


June 


25,000 


60,000 


200 


50 


1,000 


300 


180 


60 


45,000 


75,000 


5 


6 


4 


4 



In the Le Mans Area 109 

WOMEN'S BUREAU 

PERSONNEL AS OF JUNE 1 

MRS. MAUD MacDOWELL KOYLE..Regional Directress 

MISS MILDRED P. ROGERS, ...Asst. Regional Directress 

MISS LUCILLE COUCH Business Secretary 

MISS EDITH ROBERTS.. Manager of Dancing 

Distribution 

Lc Mans (Regional) 44 

Le Mans (Depot Division) _ no 

Northeast Area 10 

Northwest Area 13 

Southwest Area __ gg 

Southeast Area 19 

Rolling Canteen 3g 

Entertainers _ ^4 

Total 329 

EFORE the days of the A. E. F. the Y. M. C. A. was 
considered strictly a men's organization, and it can be 
easily understood why, back in the States, there had 
been no vital need for women's cooperation. Overseas 
service proved to be, however, an entirely different mat- 
ter. The "Y" was not long in realizing the vital necessity of injecting 
into the service in France the atmosphere which only women can 
create, and invited them open-heartedly to join them. To the fact that 
they did come into this organization with all the enthusiasm and desire 
for service to their brothers so characteristic of their sex, is due fullv 
one-half of the wonderful success of the welfare work which the Y. 
M. C. A. put before the A. E. F. in the Le Mans Region. 

The story of the Women's Department from date of origin in De- 
cember of 1918 to its close in July, 1919, is intensely interesting. 
December of 1918 found 18 representatives of the fairer sex scattered 
over the huge Le Mans Region. It was at this time that the Paris 
office sent a Regional Directress to Le Mans in an effort to organize 
the work of these women and see what could be done to help lighten 
the burden of our fighting force. Many of those who will read this can 
picture what December meant — mud to the ankles, rain and sleet 
daily and nightly; cold, biting winds; transportation over the area 






110 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

meant riding on trucks — and even the stalwart buddies were ready to 
sleep of nights after a day's ride in those huge motor caravans that 
bumped and jostled their way through the mud and ice of France's 
battered highways. At that time 75,000 men were quartered at the 
Forwarding and Class Camps. Conditions were at their very worst — 
men standing up day and night — ^or sleeping in pup tents wallowing in 
mud ; and more men were coming in every day to share their fate. These 
were some of the difficulties under which the work of the Women's 
Department was inaugurated. 

The spirit with which this new work was undertaken can best be 
shown by the simple statement that the American and French soldiers 
stationed in the Le Mans Area had a Christmas celebration which 
began at 3 o'clock December 24 and ended at 9 p. m., December 25. 
During this time there were served 60,000 cups of chocolate, 60,000 
packages of cakes and 10,000 packages of cigarettes, free of charge. 
There was a wonderful tree in the Place de Republique square ; motion 
pictures in the open air, and a band concert — and despite the rain 
which fell almost continuously, the Y. M. C. A. brought Christmas 
cheer and much comfort to the tired and homesick lads whom the for- 
tunes of war had brought so far from home. 

The closing of the Le Mans Area found 329 women personnel on 
duty. These women were active in every branch of work conducted by 
the men, besides which there were special workers. These activities 
included canteen experts, hut secretaries, area activities leader, danc- 
ing manager, visitor of the sick, club hostesses, song leader, enter- 
tainers, office manager, stenographers, sight-seeing guides, etc. 

The "YD" Hut in Le Mans was run entirely by women. On this 
staff there were a social leader, experienced woman accountant, athletic 
and dramatic promoters, information clerk, religious leader and can- 
teen workers. Women did religious work, athletic, educational, finan- 
cial management, library, canteen, entertainment, shopping with the 
men, driving cars, etc. For the colored troops there were two splendid 
colored "Y" women. Some of the women secretaries had classes in 
spelling, reading and writing before the school program was intro- 
duced. Indeed the work was so varied to meet the demands that it is 
difficult to tell more than a few instances to show how emergencies 
were met, and comfort and pleasure given. 

There was a certain Y. M. C. A. man secretary in the Le Mans 
region who will never cease being grateful to the "Y" women who 
made the opening of the Masonic Club a success. The Masons arranged 



In the Le Mans Area HI 

to take over an old French home, formerly belonging to the Mayor of 
Lille, situated near Y. M. C. A. Headquarters, and turned it into a 
club house for both enlisted men and officers who were entitled to wear 
the emblem. The idea of service was a splendid one — the house was 
well fitted up, the location ideal, but when the opening was planned, 
the men in charge suddenly discovered that something vitally necessary 
was lacking. It was the "Y" girls who supplied the deficiency. A 
detail of these women took the club rooms in charge, planned and 
executed the decorations, arranged for the refreshments and turned the 
high, gloomy rooms with their dignified and "mannish" fittings, into a 
charming home with a truly American atmosphere. No one who was 
present at this opening night will soon forget it. There was a punch 
bowl in the hall, served by " Y" girls in their pretty canteen uniforms ; 
coffee, cocoa, sandwiches and cake were dispensed by more of these 
smiling women in blue; they danced to the music of the orchestra and 
band and talked and visited with the men — turning what had threat- 
ened to be a cold, formal party into one of the most charming and 
])]casant events in old Le Mans. 

The Classification Camp, situated at the outskirts of Le Mans, gave 
a County Fair and Athletic Meet which held sway for three days, 
opening on Memorial Day. Thousands of men witnessed the events 
and Le Mans was overrun with khaki-clad boys brought in from all 
over the area, who were crowded into tent quarters pitched on the 
Class Camp Athletic Field, and others around the city. The welfare 
work which the "Y" women did in connection with these two meets is 
deserving of special mention. In addition to the huge "Y" hut, which 
was operated entirely by women, the "Y" maintained a welfare tent 
in "Welfare Row." Here for three days the women held court and dis- 
pensed welfare of all kinds to row upon row of boys as they filed 
through the tent. There was ice cream in cones — the delicious kind 
that the folks back home buy at the corner drugstore; there were 
doughnuts, powdered with sugar, and punch or "red lemonade," which 
went trickling down the throat in an ice-cold stream. There were pack- 
ages of cakes and even hot chocolate for those who wanted it, but June 
had crept upon the country-side and brought a hot sun which some- 
how or other made hot drinks unpopular. During the three days, 34 
girls were on duty in this welfare tent and dispensed welfare to 30,000 
men. 

It would appear that their share in the celebration had been big 
enough, but the most interesting feature has not been told. When this 



112 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

County Fair and Race Meet was planned, the Army proposed to hold 
special equestrian events for the ladies if sufficient contestants could 
be found among the women personnel of the various Welfare organiza- 
tions. It was discovered that there were many "Y" women who had 
had considerable experience in this sport, and ten girls in gray and blue 
uniform entered their names to compete with their sisters from the 
Red Cross and the Jewish Welfare Board. It was a pretty sight — and 
to the spectators so used to contestants clad in the inevitable khaki, an 
especially pleasing one. The closing day of the meet found the "Y" 
girls winners in all events, i. e. 

Egg and Spoon Race — Miss Helen Estee of Buffalo, N. Y., winner; 
Red Cross contestants taking second and third places, respectively. 

Ladies' Mounts — Mrs. Gertrude Gilmour of New York City, winner; 
Miss Helen Pedrick of Philadelphia, second honors. 

Needle and Thread Race — ]Miss Jane L. Rowson of Patterson, N. J., 
won first honors. 

Space will not permit a complete account of the wonderful service 
of the Women's Department. One of the most vital services it per- 
formed — the extensive dancing programme — has been judged so im- 
portant as to deserve a special write-up in itself. Women successfully 
operated "Y" huts, attending to every branch of the work without the 
aid of men. Early in the records of the area, the Y. M. C. A. operated 
an all-night service canteen at the station, the night service being 
covered by two "Y" women. This building was later turned over to 
the Red Cross and was operated by them until the closing of the area. 
Later such a station canteen was in most successful operation at Rennes, 
the midpoint between Le Mans and Brest. Twenty "Y" girls helped 
serve chocolate and coffee for two days at a Franco-American fete; 
twenty-five girls reported between the hours of 5 imd 8 p. m. at a K. of 
C. Carnival for six days and made possible the enjoyment of the 
dancing programme by the doughboys — all in addition to their regu- 
lar duties which could not be allowed to suffer. In this connection, a 
word of praise must be said for the twenty-five odd business women 
who reported in the offices of the Le Mans "Y" headquarters from 
9 to 5, and then made it their business to dance or do welfare work of 
some sort until the late hours of the night. 

The romance of the rolling canteen could never have been made pos- 
sible but for the forty "Y" girls who have served it so faithfully and 
v/ell. Their canteens touch two and possibly three points per day 
where there were no "Y" huts, and reached an average of 500 men at 



In the Le Mans Area 113 

each point. Free chocolate and doughnuts or cookies were distributed. 
Two "Y" girls served 27^000 soldiers in one of the areas during the 
month of March — making doughnuts in the forenoon and going out 
in the afternoon and evening and distributing them. The immense 
amount of labor devolved upon the women who undertook this canteen 
work and which they carried through so successfully^ cannot be over- 
estimated. 

The Y. ^I. C. A. opened a Girls' Club in March at 92 rue de Flore, 
primarily for the housing of the "Y" secretaries. This club was 
entirely managed by women, in charge of a charming hostess, and was 
a very attractive home-like place. An estimate of the extent of service 
rendered may be gained from one of the weekly reports which show 
81 girls accommodated with sleeping quarters with 236 meals served 
to them. 

Against heavy odds, the "Y" girl has proven that there is no field 
of welfare work vindertaken by the largest welfare organization in the 
world which she cannot enter and "carry on" successfully. She merits 
all praise which can be given her for tlie manner in which she handled 
a situation never before paralleled in the history of the world. 



ICE CREAM FACTORY 

HE manufacture of real American ice cream b}^ the Y. 
?« M. C. A. in the Le Mans area commenced early in June. 
^1^ A modern plant was installed in the Cafeteria Building 
^^d which was run by electric power supplied by the Army. 
^^ This plant had a capacity of 1000 gallons of cream 
daily, but owing to the inability to secure ice, but a half of this was 
actually manufactured, in any one day. 

For the week ending June 23, the following jngredients were used 
in the manufacture of 1727 gallons: 5260 cans of milk, 215 pounds 
of starch. 172 bottles of vanilla, 1375 pounds of sugar, 19,000 kilos 
of ice and four tons of salt. 

Ice cream was supplied to 33 separate places in the area during that 
one week. Thousands of doughboys were served from the rolling can- 
teens or welfare huts in the area, until the area closed. 




114 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

THE STORY OF ONE CANTEEN WORKER 
By Herself 

IF EVERY woman who has worked in a canteen in 
France would write her story and those stories could be 
collected into a volume^ the value and interest of such a 
book in the years to come could scarcely be overesti- 
mated. Since the dawn of history, there is no page or 
line v.'hich suggests that women have ever accompanied combatant 
forces into their camps in such a relationship as the Y. M. C. A. and 
J. W. B. women have accompanied their American soldiers into the 
very heart of military camps on a foreign battlefield. Somebody has 
said that the idea of sending women workers to France for canteen 
service was a stroke of genius ; there were those who said that it was 
foolhardy, unwise and contrary to the laws of nature, and all the world 
has watched with inquiring eye for the outcome. A volume made up of 
the individual stories of the "Y" girls themselves, told in the simple, 
straightforward, girlish language such as might be found in their own 
diaries, would forever settle all inquiries. These girls were chosen from 
the young womanhood of America for such qualities as health, educa- 
tion, culture, ingenuity, good spirits and willingness to serve. The 
soldiers themselves have dubbed them "good scouts" and "good sports," 
and the buddies quickly fall into calling a real "Y" girl, "Sis." A 
veteran French colonel of the war of 1870 once eyed a "Y" girl who 
was billeted in his room, rather askance, then he said pointedly: "I 
have been a soldier a long time, but I never have had any women friends 
in the Army like you ;" and the next day the old colonel was invited by 
the "Y" girl to go with her to the station from which the troops with 
whom she had been serving for four months were entraining for home. 
It was noticed that he studied the situation carefully, and at the last, 
when the long line of box cars loaded with the "59" Hommes" per 
was pulling out, and the grinning Yanks were crowded in the doorway 
of every car to call a last word to "Sis" while the train gathered speed 
with every revolution of the wheels, the old man was seen to nod his 
head as if some comprehension of the new meaning of the word 
"soldier" as it will be written in American history henceforth, was 
beginning to enter his mind. 

The girl who came to France with the A. E. F. knows that to her 
has fallen one of the richest experiences that has ever come to women 
of any age of the world's history. She has seen the men of her land 
under the most trying temptations to which men can be subjected, and 



In the Le Mans Area 115 

she knows better than any other women on earth that the gold in the 
American soldier's heart is just as pure as his steel on the battle line 
was sure. She has seen the doughboy, who has been systematically 
toughened for war for three years, pulled out of the lines where he had 
fought like a laughing demon, and sent to some miserable, muddy, win- 
ter quarter there to await months of slow dragging away of poisonous 
days whose only advent were morning, noon and night, the cognac 
joint, the crap games, and the loose women of the village; she saw 
those men honestly try to entertain themselves witli the pitiful available 
resources which the Y. M. C. A. was able to get in, bit at a time; she 
knew the heartaches of the tragedies that happened in the far-away 
homeland that was growing almost like a dream to them, and how they 
kept their nerve through it all; and she knew that her coming into 
their midst was the greatest event of their whole stay in France ! She 
was the reminder of home, and mother, and the women whom they loved 
and fought for, and had seen their buddies die for! Never was a 
golden-haired baby toddler guarded more carefully than was the regi- 
ment's most prized possession — its "Y" girl; never was a mother more 
honored than through those American sons' respect for their "Y" girl; 
never was a sister more beloved and teased and confided in than was 
the "Sis" at the Y. M. C. A. canteen. And there isn't a "Y" girl who 
came to France who wouldn't like to write across the skies of America, 
"Mothers of our Nation, proud indeed you may be of your sons They 
proved themselves heroes in the trenches, and we "Y" girls know that 
they proved themselves just as great heroes behind the lines. If the 
gas and shell of the Hun was frightful to life, so were the temptations 
of wine, women and song, the environments of a foreign land, the 
loneliness, the feeling of being forgotten, the monotony of being tied 
under military weights, deadly to the soul. Henceforth the meaning 
of the word "soldier" must be changed in the vocabulary of history. 
Your American son is as proud of being clean of life and limb as of 
being brave and strong in battle, and his criterion demands the same 
record of a comrade to whom he would accord the term of "a good 
soldier." He carries in his heart a shrine so sacred that military hard- 
ening and the horrors of war and the temptations of a foreign land can 
only make him long the more for home— Fom.' All of these things he 
has revealed in his wholesome,cordial, adoring treatment of us— the 
women of the A. E. F. So long as the mothers of America are like you, 
our nation will never know the downfall of a Sodom, nor a Rome, nor 
a Berlin!" 



116 History of the Y. M, C. A. 

Just as each canteen worker in France humbly feels that all the im- 
poverishings of the lives of the men whom she served while they were 
fighting the bitter battle of Waiting to Go Home, were poured into 
the enriching of her own soul, so does she also know that there are 
hundreds and thousands of American girls who would have eagerly 
grasped her opportunity to be of service to our soldiers in the great 
crisis. She realizes that she is blessed above mortals in her experience, 
and that she is many times a better and broadei woman for having 
come to France with the A. E. F. — an everlasting tribute to the man- 
hood and womanhood of America ! 



The following is the simple, true story of a canteen worker, Miss 
Louise Clarke. If all the stories of all the canteen workers could be 
told, they would be, paradoxically, all alike and all different, since each 
girl was thrown on her own resources to meet her own situation, to 
brace her own nerve, to be her own guiding star; for there were weeks 
at a time when the "Y" girl did not. see another of her kind: 



On the 19th of January, 1919, one lone "Y" girl was bundled on a 
"Y" camionette, whisked over country roads, and deposited at the little 
village of Ige' Orne. Previousl}'- she had been ashered into the inner 
sanctum of the "Y" district headquarters at La Ferte'-Bernard, where 
a man of business-like brevity of speech had pointed to a small map 
upon the wall. "You see this dot here. That is the villege of Ige', 
where the 347th Machine Gun Battalion of the 91st Division is located. 
No "Y" secretary is stationed there— man or woman. They have no 
Y. M. C. A. Go out and start one." And with inner tremblings, this 
being her first assignment in France, the "Y" girl went out to "start 
one." 

She arrived at Ige' to find that she had not been exjjected so soon. 
However, while one nice captain entertained her by a little grate fire in 
a two by four room containing one or two bare tables, a couple of 
spluttering candles, and a rickety chair or two, another captain de- 
parted in quest of lodgings. The major was absent; she was quartered 
in his room with promise of permanent accommodations the next da3^ 

The morning afterward, as she came out of her room, she said good 
morning to a couple of boys who were "policing up" the street. They 
stopped and stared in amazement. "Parlez-vous Americain.^" said one 
of them. "Je suis Americaine," was the answer. The astonishment of 
these men was typical of the attitude of the whole battalion. The 
majority of the men had not seen or talked to an American woman for 
months. wSome weeks later one of the bovs said: "Did it seem to vou 



In the Le Mans Area 117 

that we held a little aloof at first, and were a bit slow to get acquainted? 
We hadn't talked to a woman who spoke the English language for so 
long, that we were afraid of what we might say — I don't know whether 
you have noticed it or not, but many a time I have seen a fellow stop 
in the midst of what he was saying, and clap his hand over his mouth 
just in time. We fellows get pretty rough when we are alone with each 
other and it doesn't matter how we talk to the French, because they 
don't understand what we say." 

The "Y" canteen was started in a small, dark room in a vacant 
French house — one window, stone floor, smoky fireplace, horrible red 
and green wall paper and great patches of bare plaster where the 
paper was no more, two long narrow tables against the wall, and three 
benches that looked to be veterans of all the wars since the creation 
of man. In one corner by the window was the canteen counter, where 
all manner of things were sold, from shaving soap to sweet chocolate. 
One came to be an authority on the many brands of "chewin," and 
happy was the da^^ when there was a sufficient supply of Camels to sell 
them by the "cartoon!" 

There were many funny experiences that came to the saleswoman 
in that little "Y" canteen. One day a doughboy came in quest of a 
toothbrush. With sorrow of soul, the "Y" girl informed him that they 
were all sold. "Aw, well. Miss, it don't matter much, I never use one 
myself, but we have to have 'em for inspection. Guess I kin borrow 
one off of my bunkie." 

During those cold winter days the little canteen was jammed with 
men. At first there was no reading matter whatever, but after a week or 
two a blessed sackful of magazines arrived — and then men sat on the 
benches and read ; men leaned on the counter and read ; men even 
stood in the middle of the floor and read. Oftentimes a man stood in 
one spot for an hour at a time — because there was no place to sit down, 
because he wanted to read, because the "Y" was the only place in the 
little village where he could keep even reasonably warm One night 
two of the three dilapidated benches rebelled, and refused longer to 
serve as support for the human frame. The next da}^ the carpenter 
mended benches while the men sat on tables. The day afterward the 
carpenter mended tables while the men sat on the rejuvenated benches. 

Bit by bit conditions improved — curtains went up ; magazine pictures 
were tacked on the walls; the Chaplain secured books for the war 
library, and scouted the neighboring villages for x piano; the "Y" sent 
out more benches and tables and a couple of stoves, whicli made pos- 



118 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

sible the opening up of a tiny back room and a little room upstairs, 
which relieved the congestion somewhat. The "Y" also sent out games 
and a grafonola. From the time of its arrival until its inner workings 
collapsed, the grafonola was never silent. Often it and the piano 
entered into a contest to see which could drown out the other. The 
resulting din was tremendous, but the manipulator of each instrument 
seemed to be enjoying himself too much to admit of any remonstrance. 

A little way down the road a big Army tent had been set up, with a 
crude stage at one end, and straw on the ground, and this was the 
theatre of Ige'. Sometimes once, sometimes twice, sometimes three 
times a week the "Y" sent out entertainments which held forth in the 
tent. On nights when there was no entertainment, the little canteen 
was crowded, and the "Y" girl sat on the counter swinging her feet 
and playing her mandolin, or "pounded the ivories" all evening long, 
while the men sang ; and oh ! how they did sing ! It is something never 
to be forgotten. Often impromptu programmes took place, where 
special stars of the battalion happened to drop in — clog dancers and 
soloists and "sick-like." 

And sometimes the "Y" girl just talked. Someone said once that it 
must take a person of unusual conversational talent to be able to en- 
tertain so many men. It is quite the contrary. When one is the only 
American woman within some miles to whom 800 men can talk, all one 
has to do to make a success of it is to smile and to listen — the men 
will talk. 

The canteen piano was a long-suffering instrument. On cold winter 
evenings it took many a walk down the road to the entertainment tent 
on the shoulders of strong soldier boys. Sometimes it traveled a 
couple of kilos out into the country to the chateau where Company A 
was stationed. On one of these excursions it collided with the lamp 
that hung from the center of the wall and was drenched with coal oil. 
But still it played on. It seemed to have grasped the idea that it 
must do its best for the boys, and to have resolved to defy anything 
which threatened to destroy its usefulness. Of course Ige' was on the 
kerosene and candle circuit. It boasted some 200 inhabitants. 

There are numerous unique experiences that come to a girl in a 
French village of that size. One day a lieutenant was telling with glee 
of the genius of his orderly — how the latter had discovered a half a 
hogshead of generous proportions, how on certain nights he deposited 
said hogshead before a roaring grate-fire in the Lieutenant's room, how 



Jn tjie Le Mans Area II9 

he brought a marvelous supply of hot water and how the Lieutenant 
enjoyed the luxury of a real bath! The "Y" girl expressed extreme 
envy, and spoke in terms of contempt of the little saucepan in which 
she heated hot water in the fireplace. The next day the following note 
was handed to her-'Trivate-proprietor of the local swimming 
t^nk, says that if you wish, he will bring the same to your billet on 
any night you may name, accompanied by beaucoup hot water " The 
offer was accepted with alacrity and the hogshead arrived. A few min- 
utes afterward, the orderly and one of the guards on duty that night 
appeared, bearing a great G. I. can full of hot water; and with beatific 
smiles the happy recipient of all these favors splashed about in front 
ot the fireplace. 

If it had not been for the wonderful cooperation on the part of the 
officers and men of the battalion, the work of the "Y" secretary would 
have been very strenuous. She was certainly a jack-of-all-tradJs-gen- 
eral canteen manager, bookkeeper, saleswoman, maker of curtains 
sewer-on of everything from buttons to service stripes, performer upon' 
the piano at all hours of the day or night, teacher of the French class 
m the Army school, and even substitute for the Chaplain one Sundav 
evening when he was away. But the cooperation was wonderful' A 
permanent detail of one sergeant and two privates attended to all the 
Wder labor about the canteen, and relieved her behind the canteen 
wanted t 7 '' —kitchens m,ade chocolate when she 

wanted to give it away, and had no other means of serving it. The 
officers made her one of their family and procured for her everything 
which was within their power to procure. everything 

home'sf '^ T^'"" '"^'?^ "^"^ ''^"^^ ^^^^^^^-^ *° b^ necessities at 
home, seemed very worth while. For the little "Y" canteen was the 
only competitor of the red-curtained cafe down the road. In "l 7t 
crudeness it may have been a poor reminder, but it was a remind 
nevertheless, of home and all the things for which home stands ' 




€¥ 






120 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

DANCING IN THE A. E. F. 

From the "Y" Girl's Standpoint 

"Are _vou going to be busy tonight?" 

OW MANY times the girls in the Le Mans region have 
heard that question and known that it meant they were 
needed for a dance? Yes^ the dancing fever struck the 
American doughboy hard. There was alwaj'^s one dance 
each night — usually four or five — and, as there was no 
dancing unit to meet the demand, the canteen workers and office force 
had to take upon themselves one more duty. With the cooperation of 
the Red Cross and Jewish Welfare Board, a regular schedule of dances 
was arranged for this region, giving the larger centers one dance a 
week with special dances for the smaller camps and towns. 

The dances in Le Mans proper were always interesting, but it was 
the dances in the little towns that provided the variety. When the girls 
started from their canteens and offices for one of these, they never 
knew what kind of a place they were bound for. There was always 
the question of the right road, and the American pronunciation of the 
place where the dance was to be held did not make it eas}^ to get direc- 
tions from the French. And when the destination was finally reached, 
the girls were likely to find their hosts awaiting them in a barn, a 
French dance hall, a "Y" hut or even a fine old Chateau. The music, 
too, varied from a -iO-piece band to a baby organ or accordian — but 
while a few would frankly admit that they had never before been on 
a dance floor, the majority of the men proved to be excellent dancers. 
No girl expected a pair of shoes to last longer than one week without 
repairs, for the dance floor was always an uncertain quantity — perhaps 
cement, both smooth and rough, uphill and downhill, or planking so 
hurriedly put together that hopping over the cracks was in order, and 
one could fairly feel the leather wearing off the soles of one's shoes, 
while the hobnails played havoc with the uppers. 

No one was ever so popular as the American girl at an enlisted man's 
dance in France. Her entrance into the dance hall was always the 
signal for appreciative applause, and the minute the music began she 
was surrounded with partners. 

Did you ever dance a tag dance? They will never be forgotten by 
the girls in the A. E. F. The whistle blows — (and every boy seems to 
have a whistle) — there is a mad rush from the side wall, a struggle as 



In the Le Mans Area 121 

to who is to be the lucky man, and you whirl madly away with a new 
partner. Small wonder the boys have applied the term "shock troops" 
to these girls. 

In the bigger halls, such as the huge auditorium at the Forwarding 
Camp, a strict system had to be followed to prevent the girls from 
being absolutely swamped, and only as many men as there were girls 
were allowed on the floor for each dance. Sometimes a system of 
colored ribbons was used, men who had been given red, white or blue 
ribbons dancing in turns — but outwitting the American doughboy is a 
difficult task and a glimpse into the pocket of many an innocent-faced 
lad who somehow seemed to dance too often, would reveal each color 
ready for instant use on demand. But no matter what system was fol- 
lowed, there were never enough girls and when the dance was over, 
they were always glad to pile into the car provided by the Army, wait- 
ing to take them back to their billets. 

The Dance Bureau in the Regional Office exijected a canteen worker 
to dance twice a week, once in her own hut and once at the request of 
the Bureau; but the office girls and "casuals" often had a record of six 
nights a week to meet the never-ending request for dancers. No sunday 
dancing was permitted and the girls refused to attend dances where 
liquor was served. 

In the ten weeks from its beginning on April 6 to June 1 i. the 
Bureau sent girls to lii dances, 26 of which were for officers and 
118 for enlisted men. The total number of girls provided for dancing 
during these weeks was 136-i, and of these 1171 went to the enlisted 
mens' dances. 

It was often difficult to fit the dances in with other work, and many 
personal sacrifices have been made to meet the demand — but no girl will 
ever regret the effort she made. She was always rewarded with the 
knowledge of unparalled appreciation, and the oft repeated remark 
by the doughboy: "You don't know how glad I was to see you! For 
this is the first dance I have had with American girls since I came to 
France." These boys had been trained for two years to an active out- 
of-door life, and the dancing was an outlet to their exuberant spirits. 
To meet this demand by providing good music, well-lighted halls and 
American girls to join in American dances was a work well Avorth 
while. 



122 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 



REPORT OF DANCES FROM APRIL 6 TO JUNE 14 



Camps 

Class.. Camp 

Hdqtrs. Troop, Le Mans 

Forwarding Camp 

Economy 

Parigne 1 'Eveque 

Hotel de Paris 

Camp near Mayet 

Franco-Amer. Meeting. . 

Yvre le Polin 

J. W. B.— Le Mans 

Mayet 

Spur 

Spur Picnic 

Courcemont 

Central Hut 

K. of C— Le Mans 

K. of C. Carnival 

Y. D. Hut 

Le Grande Luce 

Overhaul Park 

Camp Etat 

La Flesche 

Masonic Club 

Souligne 

Hotel Dauphin 

Yvre le Polin 

Colombiers 

Bourge le Roi 

Masonic Club 

Belgian Camp 

Chateau du Loir 

Ballon 

Monce 

Salvage Camp 

Malicorne 

Sable 

Yvre 1 'Eveque 

Sarge 

Restaurant du Tusculan 



Total No. No. Dances 
Dances Enlisted Men 



10 

4 

10 

5 
2 
1 
1 
1 
6 
1 



1 

10 
5 
4 
2 
1 
1 
1 
6 
1 
7 
1 
1 
7 
5 
5 
6 
1 
4 
2 
1 
1 



"Y" 


No. 


Dances 


"Y" 


G-irls 


Officers 


Girls 


113 




1 


5 


6 








159 








27 






4 


38 




1 


5 


37 








5 








6 








8 








19 








5 








78 




1 


5 


30 








3 








36 








31 








80 








88 








5 








55 




4 


31 


34 








4 








12 









15 



14 
6 
6 

15 
9 

50 



11 

8 

12 

9 

11 

26 

42 

8 

4 

4 

4 



Totals 



108 



86 



Total number of dances for enlisted men. 
Total number of dances for officers 



999 



22 



86 
22 



179 



Crand total 108 

Prior to the date of this record dances were handled by local units 
without reports to Headquarters, and during February and March by a 
dancing unit of 16 girls as a "Flying Squadron," who put on a dance 
twice a day at different points throughou.t the area. 




In the Le Mans Area 



123 



ROLLING CANTEEN PERSONNEL 

FRANK E. LUTES : Director 

HONORE McNAMARA Assistant 

The Rollers 



Dorothy Arnold 
Mary Arthur 
Anna Blanton 
Grace Bouve 
Anne Bridgers 
Helen Mar Coates 
Anna Cornich 
Constance Crawford 
Mildred Eiler 
Catherine Faulkner 
Amy Greene 
Josephine Hammond 
Rachael Higgins 
Freddie Hilp 
Catherine Hopkins 
Mary Irwine 
Winifred Jones 
Sara Joyce King 
Margaret Lincoln 
Ruth McClelland 



Sara McDonald 
Gertrude Marvin 
Eleanor Merritt 
Clara Morris 
Olive Moss 
Stella Nelson 
Mary Paxton 
Eileen Patterson 
Ruth Patrick 
Alma Plumb 
Claudine Rodgers 
Eleanor Sheldon 
Elizabeth Simonton 
Sallie Simonton • 
Jane Singer 
Mary Small 
Natalie Turner 
Myrtle Weaver 
Louise Wilcox 




THE ROMANCE OF THE ROLLING CANTEEN 

PERFECT June sun shone down upon the countryside 
lying green and sparkling in its rays. The fields of 
clover were a wonderful wine color, through which was 
woven the scarlet of poppies and the blue of the corn- 
flowers, making a tapestry man could never imitate. In 



the cooling shade of the slim forest trees, so carefully pruned and 
cared for, the birds were chirping lazily in mild content, only the in- 
cessant whir-r-r-r and peck-peck-peck of the woodpecker urging the 
necessity of toil upon a sleepy world. To the right a grassy roadway 
through a lane of poplars led to a Chateau centuries old, still sturdy 
and strong, with a tiny artificial lake dotting the park like a spot of 
silver amid the green. Ahead on the main highway, a little, old 
village clustered at the edge of the cobbled pavement — old stone 
houses which had been built for generations leaning against one another 
for support, their red-tiled roofs a cheerful tone against the bright 
blue of the sky. An old, bent woman, gnarled and leathery of coun- 



124 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

tenance, wearing a spotless white cap, dozing in the doorwa}^ to the 
village inn, was the only sign of human habitation. 

A spiral of dust swirled to the horizon in the distance, while a dull 
thud-thud-thud came to the ear, the fall of thousands of feet growing 
louder and louder until it swelled into the steady tramp, tramp, tramp 
of marching men. The dust grew chokingly thick as it eddied around 
them, settling in layers upon heads and shoulders, powdering faces a 
dull grey and making grotesque layers on eyebrows and wrinkles, 
while the perspiration trickled down channels long since worn through 
the dirt. Fifteen thousand American soldiers in full marching order 
were wearily wending their way along the main road a few miles out 
of the historic city of Le Mans, from the big Forwarding Camp of the 
American Embarkation Center, to the La Suze Area, there to rest up 
a bit and prepare to entrain for the sailing port home. Fifteen long- 
kilos had been covered, with as much more to go ; tongues were thick 
with thirst and dust; bodies were tired and weary from the unaccus-. 
tomed packs ; feet were lumps of lead to the tired muscles forcing 
them step by step on their way, while spirits were at their lowest ebb — 
the sleepy, sunshiny countryside and the indifference of the few who 
turned to note them had become almost a torture — one more con- 
vincing evidence that there was no one who cared whether the}'^ ever 
got home or not — a state of mind which overwhelmed many a dough- 
boy during the weary wait for that passage hom^;. 

The cobbled village streets re-echoed to their step, a short rest from 
the blinding dust. Suddenly the boys in the front rank spied a blot of 
vivid blue at the edge of the village road — a blue that resolved itself 
into moving figures. One, more quick of comprehension than the rest, 
snapped his weary body to the right-about and called lustily to his 
comrades : 

"Hey, you fellows! Straighten up — d' yuh see what's ahead? A 
whole flock o' Bluebirds, and I hope to die if they ain't got their 
canteen !" 

An electric thrill ran along the entire line. There was much craning 
of necks, wiping of sweaty faces, and as if by magic broad grins of 
anticipated enjoyment went down the line. In the center of the road 
stood two Ford camionettes, far enough apart for two rows of dough- 
boys to pass between, while two more rows passed by the outer side 
of the trucks, permitting the service of four boys at a time without 
breaking ranks. Each camionette was painted the inevitable khaki, 
but bore in huge letters across front and sides the words, "Rolling 
Canteen, Y. M. C. A." 



In the Le Mans Area 125 

It was not the signs which had identified the outfits^ however ; it 
was the blue-clad canteen girls, to whose ears had come word of this 
long^ dusty hike^ and who had hurried their cars with their cooling- 
contents to a half-way spot, where they could help the boys over the 
road. As the line came on they were ready and waiting, and each man 
unhooked his tin cup, holding it up to the serving window to have it 
filled with deliciously cool milk shake while he helped himself with 
generous hand to the cookies heaped in a big box. What a treat ! 

"Gee !" came from the throat of one husky, broad-shouldered lad, as 
he threw back his head to let the liquid refreshment gurgle down; 
"Gee! I wuz about all in! This heat is sumpin fierce!" 

"How'd you know we was comin' this way.^" inquired another lad 
as he filed by — but the only answer was a smile and a flash of white 
teeth — Miss Canteen Girl was too busy to answer. 

A slim southern boy, with dark eyes and a shy smile murmured, 
"You-all ah shu-nuff angels, Miss !" and received an extra full cup 
for his pains. 

It was all over quickly. No time could be wasted — formation must 
not be broken — but officers were only too glad to allow the men to stop 
long enough for the drink that meant new life and better feeling for 
the rest of the hike. Soon they, too, last in line, received their share, 
expressed their hearty thanks and pressed on to overtake the toiling 
column. Miss Canteen Girl breathed a sigh from ihe very depths of her 
being, and climbed down from the stuffy camionette to stretch and 
rest. With her three sisters she watched the boys disappear in the 
dust, tried in vain to brush stain and dirt from what had been a spotless 
blue and white apron, then turned to the task of cleaning up and 
returning to headquarters for another load of good cheer for the 
bored and weary boys who were continually on the move. Here was a 
seemingly endless task, but it was a singularly gratifying one — work 
did not count, for there was plenty of it, hard snd grinding — it was 
the deep feeling of "something accomplished, something done" that 
kept her smiling and earned for her the endearing name "Bluebird" 
among the boys. The engines came to sudden life under the hand of 
th soldier drivers — ^the Rolling Canteens whirled away. Once more 
the sleepy countryside settled peacefully at rest — the sun still shone 
on the old woman sleeping in the doorway to the village inn — the 

Americans had passed. 

* * * -s 

The Rolling Canteen history is one of the romances of "Y" service 
in France — a romance as full of interest and heart throbs as any ever 



125' History of the Y. M. C. A. 

penned. Starting in February, 1919, with two one-ton Ford trucks, it 
grew in the Le Mans Region to 26 one-ton trucks operated by a crew 
of one soldier driver and two "Y" Canteen girls each, in June, 1919. 
These trucks were equipped with a caterer's boiler and grate in which 
to heat water for the hot drinks; several containers for carrying choco- 
late mixtures; tanks, one or two with spigots for. serving; a table; 
trays for holding cakes, and any other little supplies which helped to 
make the work lighter or the tables more attractive. According to 
season they served chocolate, lemonade, punch, ice cream, coffee, milk 
shakes, cookies, apples, doughnuts and cigarettes. Never were there 
more than enough Rolling Canteens in the field to answer the demand. 
It was the duty and privilege of the "Bluebirds" to go where others 
could not. The entire area grew to be as familiar to them as their own 
home town. Scarcely an M. P. but recognized the Rolling Canteen 
Girls at a glance, for out of their peculiar work they developed an 
individuality of their own. It was not easy. It meant night service — 
sometimes weeks at a stretch with less than four hours' sleep out of 
the twenty-four, while thousands of U. S. boys were passing through 
the area on their way home. It meant long rides into the edge of the 
area, touching the small, isolated towns and carrying cheer to the 
small outfits quartered there, who never had the chance to meet Ameri- 
can girls in the bigger places. It meant breakdowns coming and going, 
mending tires by the light of the moon, sleeping with clothes on, on the 
bench-like seats of the old trucks. It meant hurry calls across stretches 
of rough roads with "beaucoup" chocolate to be mixed, tons of water 
to be gotten, firewood to be brought in, and after all the effort a smil- 
ing face and word of fun to the doughboys who crowded around 
them. It meant the seizing of opportunities to help our boys keep 
the best side uppermost — with little but originalitj^, food and the wide 
out of doors to do it with. Sometimes this meant borrowing a huge 
barn, trimming it with evergreens and candles, appealing to the band 
for music, and holding an impromptu dance on pay night. Or it might 
mean a jolly picnic by the bank of a pretty stream, cheering up the 
boys whose sailing orders had just been cancelled. But one thing it 
was sure to mean, and that was work. 

The Rolling Canteen was quickly dubbed the S O. S. of the Region 
by the "Y" Secretaries in the field. Calls were continually coming in 
to the Headquarters Office to send the Rolling Canteen to tfiis and 
that point to cover emergency situations, which the regular "Y" force 
could not leave their stations to take care of. The Twenty-ninth Divi- 
sion arrived in the little town of Souligne days ahead of the Army 



In the Le Mans Area 127 

kitchens, but the Rolling Canteen girls were on the job and cooked 
mess for them until their own outfits caught up. Road battalions living 
on cold chow for two days at a stretch were taken care of by a Rolling 
Canteen which heard of their plight and came to their rescue with hot 
drinks, returning to care for them daily until the Army could make 
arrangements to do so. Truck trains were stopped on their long over- 
land trips to the debarkation points and the drivers cheered with coffee 
and doughnuts, often served in the drizzling rain and cold. Troop 
trains were met at all hours of day and night and many a sleepy, 
chilled, half-sick soldier boy has been roused by a cheery "Here 
Buddie ! Get this hot coffee into you quick — it will help warm you up 
a little." And awakened to find a smiling American girl offering a big, 
thick sandwich and patiently waiting for him to unhook his tin cup 
to pour out the liquid. 

Perhaps this extract from a soldier's letter will help the reader to 
comprehend more clearly just what the Rolling Canteen service meant 
to these thousands of boys; the letter is headed "Homeward Bound," 
directed to the Y. M. C. A. Headquarters at Le Mans, and reads: 
"Yesterday my outfit was hiking to the westward bound train, a hike 
of twenty kilos through the worst dust I ever saw, and that is some 
dust because I was one of the men in Mexico in '16, and know what 
Chihuahua alkali is. Well, we had ruled off about twelve kilos when we 
ran into a bunch of "Y" girls dishing out ice cold orangeade in large 
quantities. 

Say, that one cup of orangeade was like the nectar of the Gods, and 
only one more evidence of how the "Y" looks after the boys. From 
now on I'm for the "Y" strong. I don't know who those girls were, but 
we were on the road from the Belgium Camp, close to Change, and if 
you know the ladies thank them for me, for that drink came like the 
good Samaritan of Holy Writ." 

Again, perhaps this little tale of service to the Seventh Division 
boys who detrained at Evron one chilly morning in May will help to 
picture the hard work which these girls fresh from their homes in 
America undertook by way of doing their bit. This is not a tale of any 
special heroism, just an incident in the day's work. 

A certain Rolling Canteen had been advised that these Seventh Divi- 
sion boys would detrain some time during the night at Conlie and had 
prepared a service of hot chocolate and cakes for I6OO men. All was 
in readiness, the hot liquid bubbling in the containers, cakes piled 
ready for instant distribution, while the electric lights shone down upon 




ROLLING CANTEEN IN ACTION 

1. Entiaining Service. 2. Making Doiigrhnuts. 3. At Rifle Range. 4. Beyond Reach of 

All Other "Y's.'" 3. Kitchen at Connerre. 0. Ice Cream in Place rle Republique. 

AMONG THE ALLIES 



In the Le Mans Area 129 

the girls wrapped in their capes awaiting the signal that meant the 
train was in sight. The hours dragged slowly along; sleep could not be 
thought of for any instant might bring the glad word that the boys 
were nearing Conlie and the fire had to be kept going. Trip after trip 
to the R. T. O. brought no message — it was always, "We haven't any 
word where the train is. Miss, but we'll let you know just as soon as we 
find out." Did you back home in your comfortable chairs, ever picture 
your girls tramping up and down the platforms of these tiny stations 
in France, shivering and sleepy, waiting the chance to serve your boys 
equally tired and cold from their journey, cramped in the cold cars 
en route to the debarkation point? I wonder if you, as 3^ou read this, 
can see the romance of it all as they saw it, a long deserted platform, 
half shadow, half light ; the shrill shrieking of the French whistles as 
their tiny locomotives scuttled to and fro; the office of the R. T. O. with 
the khaki-clad boys huddled over their desks or sound asleep curled up 
on the hard cots ; the instinctive seeking for companionship during 
those long night watches as the boys sought the girls to talk to them 
and tell them all those things which the American boy takes to his 
mother and sister at home. It was a service that repaid the servers. 

But things did not go smoothly that night. After a long waiting, 
word was received that the Seventh Division boys would detrain at 
Evron, S'y kilos away, and their train was due there just two hours 
from the time the message was received. For an instant the job 
seemed impossible — the girls had been up all night; the Army trucks 
which had brought their supplies to the depot had long since been 
dismissed ; all that was left to depend upon was the one-ton camionette 
to transport supplies to feed I6OO men, the two canteen girls, their 
soldier driver, and kitchen utensils. Then the Army stepped in and 
through the kindness of the laiason officer a touring car was secured, 
precious minutes spent in repacking, and they were whirled away to 
the new scene of operations, to do over again all they had been so 
eager to do the night before. 

The Seventh Division boys had had a hard pull on their way 
from Germany, and while the very fact that they were headed for 
home meant light hearts, even the most light-hearted doughboy can 
get decidedly uncomfortable physically. Already two days late, packed 
in the train like sardines, unshaven and living on light rations, they 
were a pretty disgusted and tired lot of boys when they finally de- 
trained at Evron. They liad had no breakfast that morning, for it had 
been planned that breakfast time would find them 20 kilos further on 
where a hot meal was awaiting them. But it was then 10 o'clock and 



130 History of the Y. M. C. A, 

the twenty kilos were still to be covered. No;, I don't think we can 
blame those boys for growling a bit as they adjusted their packs prepa- 
ratory to the long hike. 

But something had happened. The canteen had reached Evron and 
the order came to line up and file past the tables where the tired^ 
dirty but very happy "Y" girls^ with muscles that ached were ladling 
out the hot^ steaming chocolate that put new life into every man. I 
don't think a more grateful crowd of boys could be found, some of 
them sheepishly filing by with an apolgetic grin for the two days' 
growth of stubbly beard on his face. But, bearded, dirty, wrinkled 
and all, the smile of appreciation and the atmosphere of "Gee ! ain't 
this great !" which filled the place was pay enough for the Rolling 
Canteen. 



* * * * * 



Tales of this sort could be told indefinitely, rind for long years to 
come will live in the hearts and minds of men and women to whom the 
war becomes only a memory. 

The Rolling Canteen gave the letters "Y. M. C. A.," a new force, a 
living power of service. Of all the departments of overseas work under- 
taken by this huge organization, none has stood for harder work, longer 
hours, or more difficulties overcome than this. It is easily understood 
why those women who have served the Rolling Canteen are proud of 
their record and would not exchange it for any other kind of service — 
while those who were less fortunate frankly envy them their op- 
portunity. 



SERVICE BY ROLLING CANTEEN 



No. Canteens 

No. Girls 

No. Extra Help . . . 
Kilometers Trav'ld 
No. Places Served. 
No. Hours Served. 
No. Hours PreiJar- 

paring to Serve 
No. Men Served., 
No. Gallons Cocoa 

and other Drinks 1,200 3,000 4,200 9,000 97,200 105,000 

No. Cakes and 

Doughnuts 450,000 1,125,000 1,170,000 3,375,000 3,925,000 4,575,000 

Ice Cream Cones ' 90,000 235,000 



Jan, 


Feb. 


March 


April 


May 


June 


2 


5 


7 


15 


18 


26 


4 


10 


14 


30 


45 


60 


6 


15 


21 


45 


60 


75 


950 


2,375 


3,325 


7,125 


8,750 


6,500 


120 


300 


420 


900 


1,080 


2,000 


240 


600 


840 


1,800 


2,160 


3,115 


300 


750 


1,050 


2,250 


2,700 


3,250 


90,000 


225,000 


315,000 


675,000 


785,000 


875,000 




In the Le Mans Area 131 

SHOPPING BUREAU 

From Paris Edition "The New York Herald," July 2, 1919 
"Helping Soldiers Shop" 
HE BUYING for American soldiers to enable them to 
take back gifts to mothers, sisters, wives and sweet- 
hearts, is one of the many unique features of the wel- 
fare work in France. Mrs. Gertrude Gilmour assisted 
by five American girls, helped in conducting soldiers on 
their shopping trips, and helped them to choose the proper gifts, 
which included everything from drumsticks to gold fillings for teeth. 
One soldier said he wanted to take a souvenir of France to his 
brother, and he thought he would like to have a pair of drumsticks ; 
another asked for help to buy some gold fillings for his teeth; another 
sent a franc in a letter and asked to have produced "a Frenchy lace 
collar," and to have it sent by post to his sweetheart; another asked 
for a bridal veil, and still another sent 100 francs for a selection of 
seven gifts for his family — and if there were anything left, to buy 
"a cheap rosary for a brother I do not like." These are a few of the 
thousands of requests that were received and without exception, all 
requests were complied with satisfactorily. 

The best work was done in the hospitals, whence the sick men were 
to be sent directly to the ships. As none of them wanted to leave 
without a gift for the "folks at home" samples were taken to them of 
the objects in the shops, and the purchasers were helped to select 
things according to the photographs which soldiers would show them. 
The nurses always reported the men much improved after the anxiety 
of remembering the "home folks" was off" their minds. 

SIGHT-SEEING AND SHOPPING— LE MANS 

Shopping 

Rural City Trips 

January ; 

February 225 825 

March 650 1875 150 

April 725 1750 175 

May 750 1680 200 

June 650 975 250 



Totals 3000 7105 775 

Sight-seeing — Walking trips in and about Le Mans. Motor trips 

into surrounding areas. 

Shopping Bureau — Experts in art and lace at disposal of officers and 

men for purchases in local markets. 




132 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

THE STATION CANTEEN 

T IS true, indeed, that great things often have small 
beginnings. And again it is true that the failure or suc- 
cess of the Y. M. C. A. in the A. E. F. has depended 
upon the initiative and energy of the individual secre- 
taries. To see the tremendous Y. M. C. A. operations of 
dispensing welfare to tired and hungry men at the station or at the 
arrival or departure of trains in the Le Mans area during the months 
when hundreds of thousands of troops passed through the A. E. C, 
one would never guess the humble origin of the scheme, nor the 
obstacles that had to be cleared before the machinery for the extensive 
scale could be put into motion. 

In december of 1918, a "Y" secretary created his own job of meet- 
ing trains of troops bound for the ports. The average number of men 
passing through Le Mans then was about 3500 a day. 

The secretary reported conditions to headquarters, recommending 
thai a canteen be established at the station to dispense hot coifee, 
cookies, cigarettes and tobacco free to the soldiers passing through 
Le Mans. Since such a move would be tresspassing upon the rights 
of the Red Cross, the Army objected to the establishment of the Y. M. 
C. A. Canteen, and the Y. M. C. A. was powerless for a time. There 
was obviously work for all, however, and the determined secretary 
never gave up hope until he had won permission from the "Y," the 
Army, the Chef de la Gare, and had the consent of the Red Cross to 
install his station canteen. The little space allotted him by the station 
master was 16x25 feet out on the platform. Meanwhile the secretary 
and his assistant had instituted the plan of steering the soldiers who 
came in late at night up to the central hut for hot coifee and chocolate. 
After the canteen at the station was opened, its diminutive size still 
made necessary the caring for all the soldiers who had time, at the 
Central Hut. This midnight visitation of the soldiers from the trains 
was the beginning of the "Midnight Follies," at Central — one of the 
most unique institutions of the A. E. F. Here thousands of boys were 
able to leave the uncomfortable, cold box cars in which they were mak- 
ing their miserable trip to the coast, and go to the big warm canteen, 
get a good hot meal, see a clean, wholesome show, and get back to the 
train in the allotted time for the "Y" secretaries made it their business 
to know how many minutes were to spare. 

The success of the Le Mans Station Canteen later called for the 
establishment of an equally successful and important canteen at the 
station in Rennes. 




In the Le Mans Area 133 

DIARY OF A DIVISIONAL SECRETARY 

Copied from Diary of C. W. Ashcraft, Divisional Secretary. 
Stationed at Chateau Gontier. 

AD NOTICE that 136"th Reg. 62nd Brigade, 37th 
Artillery would arrive Chateau Gontier 6:30 tonight 
(Feby. 5th, 1919). Had arranged with Chef de la Gare 
to set two canteen boilers outside station and make and 
serve hot chocolate to the soldiers detraining, so Mr. H. 
M. Bing, Mr. E. H. Price, Mr. Godfrey, Mr. Earl, Mrs. Scriven and 
Miss Schimmelfeng and I got very busy to get ready for their arrival. 
Had only 30 minutes' notice. I went way up the track and got about a 
bushel of coke in sack and brought it on shoulder to use in boilers, 
avoiding smoke. At 6:30 train reported three hrs. late. At 9:30 re- 
ported 6 hrs. late. At 12:30 reported to arrive at 1 a. m. Arriving time 
moved forward one or two hours at time. Had hot chocolate ready at 
6:30 at night by getting first hot water from hotel. Kept it hot right 
on through night and until 9:30 Thursday night (Feby. 6) when train 
pulled in. All soldiers allowed to march by and get mess cup full hot 
chocolate, cigarettes and cakes. Cold rain falling and soldiers marched 
to billets in barns, attics, etc. Ladies worked until all troops detrained 
3 a. m. Friday, then they went to bed and we men cleaned up the things, 
helped soldiers find billets or hotels until daylight. Tlien began to 
load boilers, tables and other equipment and move to Segre, where the 
135th Reg. was to arrive about noon. 

Met troops at Segre. Bing and Earl remained at Chateau Gontier in 
charge of hut. Godfrey, Price, Mrs. Scriven and Miss Shimmelfeng 
and I rushed to Segre to set up and be ready. Began serving hot 
chocolate, cigarettes and cakes at 2 p. m. Friday (Feby 7) in basement 
of Catholic school room. Finished serving at 10 p. 



m. 



Rec'd notice that 134th Reg. had arrived Segre en route to Le Lion 
d' Augar, li k. away. Wlould lie in train in Segre several hours and 
arrive Le Lion 7 o'clock morning, Saturday, 8th. Very much disturbed 
about cars to move equipment from Segre to. Le Lion. No gasoline in 
Segre, or any other nearby town. Had only one Ford car and one 
camionette. All gas out in cars. Took ladies' to Le Lion to hotel and 
Price and I rushed back to Segre arriving little after midnight. God- 
frey had remained in Segre to take care of things. Just as reached 
school room oar stopped, gas out. Terror-stricken, Godfrey said Fords 
hot would run on K. oil. Loaded both caterers' boilers back seat of 



134 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

Ford. G. I. cans and pans on them, with sugar, chocolate and milk. 
Tied tables on sides, then took K. oil from three lamps and small stove, 
in all about three pints, poured into Ford, Godfrey cranked her up, 
Price and I bounced in and pushed our faces thru the night toward 
Le Lion. Godfrey remained with things in Segre. But as we left, 
Godfrey said (and I'll never forget it) Bro. Asheraft, I know you will 
get there for I know what's in your heart. And just then I was saying, 
"I'll do my part the best I can and God will do the rest. Oh, God, as 
you let not the oil fail once before, now magnify this while we make 
this trip." We landed at the station in Le Lion 2 :30 Saturday morning, 
8th. Engine stopped dead and out of oil right at the depot in Le Lion 
d' Angers. High fence around station and gate locked. Oh, so cold 
and ground covered with snow. Price and I put furnaces, boilers, 
tables, cans, sugar, cocoa, etc., over fence and thru cracks. Climbed 
fence, set up boilers, found fagots and made fires, found well, drew 
water and had it hot at 5 :30, when the ladies were awakened at hotel 
and came to make chocolate. At 7 :00 Saturday morning all ready for 
train due. Train 1 hr. late, 2 hrs. late, etc. Finally arrived 11a. m., 
but chocolate hot and ready all time. Mr. Stimson, who had served 
with this reg. when in training, came to be their secy here and assisted 
today. It was bitter cold all day, but wonderful day nevertheless 
Finished about 5 p. m., and hurried to Chateau Gontier, tired and 
sleepy, but very happy. Had gone three nights and three days without 
sleep and only three meals. Particularly happy because this Brigade 
trained at Montgomery, Ala., my home state, where had "Y" service. 
Then separated for their division and no more "Y" service until 
given it by me and things they said about Ala., very gratifying. Surely 
no other Div. Sec. ever had such fine men and women assigned him. 
Such wonderful work and such endurance and happy all time. All 
commanding officers came and expressed deep appreciation for service. 







In the Le Mans Area 135 

SERVICE FOR ALLIES 

THE POLISH CAMP PERSONNEL 

EDWARD J. OBERHOLSER Camp Secretary 

J. S. ANDRESON Athletic Director 

HE Y. M. C. A. did practical and efficient service with 
the Polish Camp, which for months contained a thou- 
sand or more soldiers, more than one-half of whom were 
American citizens. Besides having one of the most com- 
plete canteens in the area, an efficient educational work 
was carried on consisting of picture shows, instruction and interesting 
talks, many with talent supported by Y. M. C. A. headquarters. 

Edward J. Oberholser, camp secretary, proved so valuable to the 
work among the Poles that he was asked to accompany the troops to 
their mother country, to aid in forwarding "Y" work in Poland. Be- 
fore his departure he was presented with a handsome present by the 
appreciative Poles, who patronized the "Y." 

J. S. Andresen, athletic director at the camp, had the unusual experi- 
ence of working with the soldiers of three different countries, Ameri- 
can, French and Poles. In addition to his duties as athletic director, 
Mr. Andresen compiled a manual or handbook of exercises which he 
translated into the Polish language, and which will be officially adopted 
by the Polish Army. 



WITH CHINESE 
Y. H. PENG ,.. Secretary 

THE scope and adaptability of the Welfare Service of the Young 
Men's Christian Association abroad is notably illustrated in the 
splendid results achieved among the Chinese soldiers, about 400 of 
whom were located at Le Mans in three camps, as wards of the French 
Army and working for that organization in a Labor Battalion. 

The social welfare of the men in this area was in charge of Y. H. 
Peng, a brilliant young Chinese student, a full feldged American 
Y. M. C. A. secretary, who directed entertainment work in the three 
camps. 

The secretary introduced into the camps many activities, social, 
recreational, and educational. He gave lectures every evening. In each 
camp thei^e was a reading room in which were found Chinese peri- 
odicals, magazines and papers. Chinese, English and French classes 
were organized. For recreation, the Chinese were taught to play soccer 



136 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 



ball, volley ball, running, jumping, baseball, throwing and tug-of- 
war. 

With the object of encouraging athletics among his compatriots Mr. 
Peng started the so-called Triangular Meet or Athletic Competitions 
between the three Chinese camps. Banners were awarded to cham- 
pionship teams, and many individual prizes to the best runners and 
jumpers. The Cinema show was a very popular entertainment among 
the Chinese. 



FOYER DES SOLDAT 



JOHN T. MOORE Secretary 

A PECULIAR bond of fellowship was always manifest between 
the French Polui and the American doughboj^ The polui coveted 
the doughboy, and the Y. M. C. A. and the French command saw the 
necessity for it. Hence the Foyer des Soldat, which was nothing more 
nor less than a Y. M. C. A. for the French soldier. 

While an interchange of courtesy permitted a polui in the doughboys' 
"Y," still in Le Mans, where both were found in such large numbers, it 
was found more practicable to maintain seperate huts and the French 
work was directed bv an American secretary. 




3. JF ■ -TS! ^■ 

1. Polish Camp "Y." 2. "Y" at Chinese Labor Battalion. 3 and I. Foyers des Soldat. 



In the Le Mans Area 137 

MEMORIAL DAY 

"Les fleurs pour les soldats Americanes !" 

THERE- was a murmuring of little voices from the streets and the 
pattering of many sturdy little boots upon the cobble stones. The 
children of France were mobilizing, armed with big bouquets of bright 
blossoms, to do honor to the graves of American dead. Patter, patter, 
patter — the tramping of many feet over the bridge, like Roman soldiers 
of old in regular formation, division by division, each led by his school 
master for a commander — the young soldiers of France marched 
steadily on. The bright bouquets were held proudly in their hands, 
their eyes were glowing and their faces beaming with happiness. 

It was Memorial Day in Le Mans. Just the sort of Memorial Day 
one might expect back home — soft breeze, sunshine, the pleasant per- 
fume of flowers — the city astir in preparation for the services of the 
day. Market women in their stiff', white caps stood at street corners 
with big baskets of flowers, and the passers-by stopped in their hurried 
walk and bought, then laden with their purchases started on again 
past the old Roman wall to join the Americans. For France was cele- 
brating, too. Hand in hand with her Ally from across the sea she was 
off'ering her finest to show her appreciation of "les soldats Americanes" 
who had fought and died and whose graves were now entrusted to her 
care. 

Back at Y. ]M. C. A. Headquarters there was much quiet hurrying 
to complete the final tasks in preparation for the part the "Y" was to 
take in the services, for at the request of the Army the "Y" had full 
responsibility for the decorations. 

Promptly at 9:30 huge autos unloaded their burden of men and 
women secretaries in strict uniform at the gates of the Le Mans Ceme- 
tery, where soldiers of the Seventh Division were drawn up in a double 
line to form entryway through which the American portion of the ceme- 
tery was approached. The children of France were drawn up enmasse 
at one side of a hollow square formed by more soldiers of the Seventh 
Division standing at attention, in the center of which stood the huge 
flag pole from which the Stars and Stripes floated at half mast. A 
platform had been built around this pole, now covered with floral 
pieces and wreaths, tributes from French friends, various welfare or- 
ganization, and the Army. 

The strains of "Nearer My God To Thee" broke the silence. To the 
listening Americans it brought a renewed faith through the saddened 
atmosphere, as their thoughts went out to the •juff'ering parents, the 
wives and sweethearts across the sea, who had given their loved ones 



138 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

in the cause of humanity. Verse by verse the hymn rolled on — majestic, 
powerful in its sway of human emotions — while tears coursed un- 
ashamed down the cheeks of men and women alike. Patriotic addresses 
delivered by Hon. Henry Morganthau, former American Ambassador 
to Turkey, and by Mr. M. C. Blet, Prefet du Mans, were fitting trib- 
utes to American heroes who slept their last sleep row upon row on this 
hillside of France ; the burial service of the diiferent faiths — Jewish, 
Protestant and Catholic — were read with reverent solemnity, all united 
now into a simple service of love and memory ; and the children of 
France stood in the hot sun waiting without murmur or complaint dur- 
ing these services they could not understand, to take their part. 

Once more the strains of a hymn came floating upon the air, softly 
at first, then louder and clearer sending its message of hope and cheer 
to the troubled hearts of its hearers. "How Firm a Foundation, Ye 
Saints of the Lord" — surely, surely, these boys had not died in vain ! 
But had builded by their deeds and death the very "foundation" for 
an eternal "peace upon earth, good will toward men." Then followed 
the salute to the dead, the unfurling of the colors, and the bugler 
stood forth to play "Taps." Clear and strong went forth the call — a 
serene and calm benediction which brought Heaven very near, but 
would not permit of sadness for these lads who had answered their last 
roll-call, but brought rather a calm conviction that all was well with 
those whom He had seen fit to call unto Himself. 

An instant of solemn hush followed — then the band swung into the 
martial music of "Onward Christian Soldiers" and 5000 French boys 
and girls broke ranks and marched across that field of sleep, each child 
dropping his tribute of blossoms at the foot of the white crosses which 
marked the American graves. It was an unusual moment — for to the 
watching Americans came the conviction that here was a feeling 
time nor tide could not break, a mutual understanding between the two 
races, united in a common cause. 

Our Memorial Day was over. The soldiers marched back to their 
quarters; the French lingered a while for a last expression of their 
sympathy, then quietly departed; the children had long since gone 
clattering back to their schools; the Americans were scattered about 
the cemetery seeking the particular graves of relatives or friends which 
they desired to honor; even then the flowers so recently placed on the 
graves had begun to droop in the heat ; but over all there still lingered 
the spirit which had been so lavishly poured forth, expressed by the 
children of France and their touching tribute of flowers. 

"Les fleurs pour les soldats Americanes .?" 




1. Welfare Workers Gathering Flowers for Memorial Day. 2. At the Grave of Miss 

Gertrude Valentine. 3. Memorial Day at Le Mans 1919 Address by 

Hon. Henry Morganthau 



140 History of the Y. M. C. A. 



3n iWemorian 



GERTRUDE CRISSEY VALENTINE 

Canteen Worker, Camp Etat 

Died in Line of Duty, June 11, 1919 
Respiratory^ ParaWsis Following Contusion of Spinal Cord 



HARRY G. FISHER 

Entertainment Director, Ninety-first Division, La Ferte' — Bernard 

Died in Line of Duty February 19, 1919 

Pneumonia Following Influenza 



Buried in Officers' Row With Full Military Honors in American Section 

of Le Mans Cemetery, Where Rest Nearly One Thousand Other 

Members of the A. E. F. 



In the Le Mans Area 141 

SECTION III 

NORTHWEST AREA 

CONLIE HEADQUARTERS 
PERSONNEL 

THOMAS H. FRANCISCO ...Area Supervisor 

WILLIAM C. MOORE _ Business Secretary 

W. D. HIGGINS- Field Secretartj 

W. H. B. LYON Warehouse and Salvage 

MISS JEM SHERMAN Hut Secretary 

MISS MABEL D. BROWN.. Hut Secretary 

EIGHTY-FIFTH DIVISION 
JOHN S. SCULLY Division Secretary 

A. J. HILLHOUSE Business Secretary 

JAMES B. ANDRESEN Athletic Director 

R. M. WOOD Religious Director 

OLIN W. WEBSTER Cashier 

AMZIE E. JORDAN Warehouse Manager 

M. A. STEWART Secretary 

B. T. STONE ...Secretary 

W. P. CARNEGIE ...Secretary 

T. H. FRANCISCO .Secretary 

O. A. PRICE Secretary 

Canteen Workers 
Stella Nelson Estelle Pryor 

Mabel Brown Florida Kountz 

Gem Sherman Elizabeth Wood 

Mrs. May Wells Mary Holmes 

Elizabeth Bowie 
ONLIE Area was the home of two full Divisions^ the 
8.)th, which arrived January l6 and departed for home 
in March, and the Seventh, which came in from near 
Germany on Ma};^ 13 to remain until the first week in 
June. The "Y" had its trials and tribulations in the 
Conlie Area, in common with the other sections of the region. On the 
whole, however, the Welfare work accomplished was of a liigh order 
and was efficient. 

January was a difficult month for service; rain fell almost continu- 
ously, it was cold, supplies were insufficient and transportation prob- 
lems hindered and at times forbade the movement to the area of any- 
thing like the needed equipment and supplies. The self-sacrifice of the 
personnel at Conlie and the utter devotion to duty of all saved the 
situation. 




142 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 




SEVENTH DIVISION— CONLIE 
HACKETT BARBEE Divisional Secretary 



Jesse Elliott 
L. M. Francis 
Calvin Faris 
Wayne H. Johnson 
Eric B. Sikes 
W. L. Truden 

F. S. Osgood 
E. L. Fox 
H. C. Green 
W. H. Metcalf 
W. L. Freeman 
E. L. King 

B. S. Binford 

G. L. Nyquist 
Geo. Cossemas 
W. H. Hargrave 
H. A. Roerig 
Jesse Martin 
Norman Stewart 

C. R. Martin 
Lloyd R. Calkins 
Margaret Bean 
Luella H. Adams 
Elizabeth Beyer 
Eugenia Bradshaw 
Edith S. Buck 
Marjorie Campbell 
Susan Clark 
Dorothy Croaksdale 



Flora Eloise Creech 
Eugenia Diven 
Eunice Dogett 
Antoinette Doughty 
Jane C. Elliott 
Effie Fiscus 
Rena Fowler 
May Francies 
Elizabeth Hammett 
Elizabeth Hazelhurst 
Flora Howe 
Cora Lee King 
Anna McCollum 
Mrs. Martha Miller 
Annie Myers 
Frances Newell 
Daphne Selden 
Bessie Stewart 
Gertrude Valentine 
Grace Walker 
Margaret Wood 
Jane MacLaren 
Ruby Howe 
Mrs. Wayne Johnson 
Margaret Law 
Mrs. Harriet Nutter 
Mary Paxton 
Mrs. Jessie Amos 
Katherine Welles 



In the Le Mans Area I'iS 

WJien the Seventh Division started to enter the Conlie area, the 
region had been entirely "washed out" of equipment. Inside of three 
days the men in charge of the work had set up Y. M. C. A. centers in 
49 towns. Buildings were taken over, tents pitched, contracts drawn 
and every hamlet that contained 200 men or more had "Y" activities 
of some kind the same day it was occupied by troops. Five rolling 
canteens were hastily brought into the area for supplementary service 
and six cinema machines were supplied. It was a record in itself. 

The matter of saving time in serving a company of men with hot 
chocolate and cakes by the Y. M. C. A. as they detr ined was so 
important to the Army officers that frequently not all the men in the 
ranks could secure anything. This was obviated when the following 
plan was thought out and put into practive. As the men retrained 
and formed in columns of four they approached the Y. M. C. A. tent 
and were served without waiting longer than to lift their tin cup from 
their belts and hand it out to be filled, and without losing their forma- 
tion. This was accomplished by having two long tables stationed with 
each other and apart far enough so that two lines might be served 
from each table as they passed through the tent. The lines alternately 
were served first with chocolate and secondly with cakes, no stop being 
necessary to reform as they continued on past the tent. This system 
was subsequently used by many canteen workers and was officially com- 
mended by Army officers. It was efficiently worked out in the Ballon 
area, at Beaumont and at Conlie with the Seventh Division. 

An unusual honor was conferred upon the 28 Y. M. C. A. women 
canteen workers with the Seventh Division, when the troops moved 
from Colombey-les-Belles to Conlie, in appreciation of the splendid 
service rendered by -the "Bluebirds" to the men. Major J. R. Miller, 
chief Welfare officer, gave the group of young women a personally 
conducted excursion from base to base in five large reconnaissance 
trucks which made the three hundred miles without mishap. Hotel 
accommodations and picnic lunches were provided for the "Y" girls 
under the personal direction of Major Miller, who expressed the senti- 
ment that they were entitled to even more courtesy because of their 
excellent records in Welfare work for the boys. 

How THE "Y" Works 

OW. VOORHEES, religious work secretary with the Conlie con- 
• tingent, and for some time at Laval, gives a pen picture of "Y" 
work in the area, which is based on actual conditions at the time: 



144 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

Captain X comes bustling into "Y" headquarters at Laval for he has 
an important errand — a pocket full of francs to hand over to the 
business secretary, from the canteen operated in the tovrn where his 
outfit of colored engineers is billetted. In a day or two the "Y" will 
relinquish responsibility for the canteen to the Quartermaster's Depart- 
ment of the Army, and when the last reports are in this connection 
with the "Y" will be severed. So at least thinks Captain X. 

The money is paid over to the man in charge, and Captain X is 
about to depart, well satisfied with a duty well performed. But he 
hears a query: 

"Captain, how is the educational work going in your outfit.^" 

"Educational work.^* We have none." 

"Did you not know of the order that educational advantages were 
to be offered to all the soldiers, and that all who cannot read and 
write are under orders to attend the schools that are set up? We have 
found illiterates in every detachment of colored men we have met." 

"That is news to me. The order must have failed to reach me." 

"^Vlell, that's the fact. Now can we help you put the program over?" 

"But we have no place for classes." 

"We will supply a tent if you will find a place for it and furnish a 
detail to put it up." 

"That is good as far as it goes, but we have no tables and benches." 
"We will supply them also. We will also furnish books and a man 
to organize the work and instruct some of your non-coms as teachers. 
In some camps the men are required to learn to write their names at 
least. They cannot receive their pay until they learn to sign the pay 
roll. Issue such an order in your outfit, and you will have no trouble to 
get men into your school." 

"That's good. How soon can we begin?" 

"We will give the order for the tent and equipment at once if you 
promise to do your part." 

"That is fine. Now, let me see. Can't you send a live wire out to 
talk to our boys? I rather think they need a little preaching." 

"Surely. Meet the religious secretary. And be sure that the service 
is well advertised. Anything more we can do for you?" 

"I wonder if there are any other colored outfits around here. Our 
men would like to challenge them to a baseball game. Something of 
that sort helps keep the men occupied." 

"Surely! We have all the information here. Come and look at our 



In the Le Mans Area I ir) 

map. There are colored troops there and there (pointing). See the 
athletic secretary. He will be glad to help you make the arrangements, 
and secure any additional athletic equipment you may need. Captain 
X, let me introduce you to Mr. A. I think you and he can arrange this 
matter to your satisfaction." 

The interviews with the athletic and religious secretaries were prompt 
and businesslike, and Captain X went away a little later than he had 
expected, but with a supply of information that set him thinking. He 
had imagined that the canteen was the big end of "Y" work. Here he 
had come in one short hour into contact with its educational, religious 
and athletic activities and had found them all offering valued and val- 
uable aid for his men. 

In one camp many colored men had practically their first schooling 
under the "Y" secretary, and were proud indeed when they could sign 
their names to the pay roll, and could send their first letters in their 
own handwriting to the folk back home. 

The northwest area had a large problem in the service of many 
widely scattered units; engineers, labor batallions, etc. Large units of 
colored batallions centered at Mayenne Forest and at St. Denis d'Orques 
and were served by colored secretaries. An important unit was the 
Polish regiment located at Sille Guiame. 







1. Afternoon Tea; Officers at Ballon. 2. Improvised Cafe in Sixteenth Century Building, 

Used as "Y" Reading Room at La Ferte-Bernard. 3. Canteen Service at cbnley Hut. 

4. Michigan Hut at Conley. 5. Hostess House at Ballon. 6. Sixteenth Century Town 

Hall at La Ferte-Bernard, used as "Y." 



In the Le Mans Area 147 

NORTHEAST AREA 
BALLON HEADQUARTERS 

PERSONNEL 

C. R. HENCH Area Supervisor 

I. L. PUTNAM Business Secretary 

THOMAS FRIEND , Accountant 

MABEL E. SHERIDAN Activities Director 

ROLAND BATSON Athletic Director 

A. L. BIXLER Religious Director 

H. W. HYDE Assistant Athletic Director 

ELEANOR A. KETCHUM Office Secretary 

ERNEST KNIGHT Transportation Director 

D. A. SLOAN Assistant Athletic Director 

MISS SALLIE MASSEY Hostess House 

THIRTIETH DIVISION— BALLON 
PERSONNEL 

J. NORMAN PATTERSON Division Secretary 

WALTER L. MATTIS Transportation Manager 

STEPHEN O. GIBBS Accountant 

CHARLES R. HENCH Assistant Accountant 

JESSE J. DODD Wiarehouse Manager 

MARTIN H. DOANE 4thletic Director 

JOHN E. DUNN Religious Director 

ELLIOTT C. ROGERS Educational Director 

MARCUS E. NELLUMS Accountant 

GEORGE R. BAYNTAIN.. Warehouse Secretary 

DAVID A. SLOAN Associate Athletic Secretary 

HOMER F. PRICE Motor Transport Secretary 

HOMER F. PIERCE Driver 

EUGENE G. REXFORD Driver 

HENRY BAKER Secretary 

R. C. KINKAIDE S,ecretary 

W. S. ROUNDS Secretary 

A. H. LYCAN Secretary 

R. J. RITTER Secretary 

J- S- WRAY : Secretary 

H-M. MILLS Secretary 



148 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

W. S. McBRIDE- Secretary 

B. McCLEARY.... Secretary 

W. C. CRONK Secretary 

W. J. JENNINGS ...Canteen 

Canteen Workers 
Miss Effie Shields Miss Sallie Massey 

Miss Frances Cooper Miss Teresa McDavid 



THIRTY-SEVENTH DIVISION— ALENCON 

PERSONNEL 

CRATE DALTON : Division Secretary 

HERBERT S. GILKEY - Cashier 

EDWARD E. BRIGGS Transportation Secretary 

JOHN CALVIN BLACK.- Assistant Athletic Secretary 

CHAS. E. GREASON.-_ ._ Athletic Secretary 

CHAS. E. COSAND Educational Secretary 

LOUIS N. CUSHMAN ....Entertainment Secretary 

GEO. E. GREELEY ...Auditor 

CHAS. W. KELLEY Religious Secretary 

WALTER E. WELLMAN Educational Secretary 

JOHN W. PRICE Entertainment Secretary 

S. N. SELLERS Athletic Secretary 

G. C. RANNE __ Athletic Secretary 

ARTHUR LEONARD Transportation Secretary 

S. C. WADMOND... __ _ : ...Hut Secretary 

H. A. MELCHER Hut Secretary 

JOS. HENY BLACKMER Hut Secretary 

RICHARD WILSON Assistant Hut Secretary 

AAVON RUBRIGHT... Hut Secretary 

WM. O. FLETCHER .....Hut Secretary 

ROY FAGALY Hut Secretary 

GEO. B. ADAMS Hut Secretary 

SHIRLEY REASONER Hut Secretary 

J. KELLEY BROWN Hut Secretary 

Canteen Workers 
Claudine Rodgers Anna McGlineh 

Sarah H. Smith Myrtle Weaver 



In the Le Mans Area 149 

TWENTY-NINTH DIVISION— BALLON 

PERSONNEL 

A. L. MALOTT Division Secretary 

H. W. CONKLIN Transportation Secretary 

ERWIN C. FUNK Athletic Secretary 

J. F. BICKEL Secretary 

E. E. SHRIVER Secretary 

ROY J. HICKS... Secretary 

L. A. WILSON Secretary 

W. C. MOORE Secretary 

E. S. McCARDELL ...Secretary 

W. HOWELL Secretary 

C. S. ALBRO. Secretary 

MILO MURRAY Secretary 

H. C. WHIPP Secretary 

ROBERT PARSONS Secretary 

GEO. WOODRING ...Secretary 

H. C. JAMIESON Secretary 

R. HUNTER ...Secretary 

JOS. GOFFNETT Secretary 

ROBERT STEWART Secretary 

J. H. ARMBRUST Secretary 

CARL TROUTWINE Secretary 

Canteen Workers 

Mrs. Effie P. Loomis Mary B. Jenkins 

Louise Mclntyre Gertrude Marvin 

Sara E. Hayes Mayo Massey 

Sallie Simonton Mary E. Morris 

Elizabeth Simonton Essie Roberts 

Eleanor E. Shyne Helen Snyder 

Louise Wilcox Mrs. Mainer Toler 

Mrs. Catherine Holcomb Elizabeth Tuller 



150 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 



EIGHTY-FIRST DIVISION— BALLON 
PERSONNEL 

W. PAUL MOBLEY Divisional Secretary 

IRVING E. PATRIDGE. Business Secretary 

JAMES H. RANKIN Religious Secretary 

B. F. POLLARD Motor Transport 

JAMES W. BALL Motor Transport 

E. J. NEWBEGIN Athletic Secretary 

FRANK WHITBECK Athletic Secretary 

Secretaries and Canteen Workers 
Helen R. Churchill Ralph C. Barnstead 

Miss Cassett F. A. Harris 

Eleanor Ketchum Curtis M. Harrison 

Ona M. Rounds F. B. Howland 

Janet Linehan G. A. Johns 

Ethel Wright Charles Henry 

Bertha Howell S. D. Leonard 

Mary F. Jones F. R. Mitchell 

Anne G. Brown George W. Blair 

Gladys Wood E. C. Freese 

Christine Pollock Bernard Peterson 

Gladys Graham W. J. Allen 

Bernice White G. E. Webster 

Mary Garrett Frank W. Harrison 

Mildred Severance M. D. Roberts 

Alice Macy Calvin Ferris 

Jean Davidson W. H. B. Lyon 

Martha Allen T. T. Simmons 

Ruth Lew G. W. Everett 

Helen Woodman Cbas. A. Lloyd 

Ella S. Molter E. W. Warrington 

Dorothy Hiller E. F. Hecox 

Constance Scudder F. W. Engle 

Ireline DeWitt James G. Cairns 

Henrietta Floney Thomas J. Thomas 

Lilly M. Young H. O. McDonald 

Kilbourne Cowles W. L. Grimes 

F. Miriam Stowers F. A. Carmony 

Florida Kountz M. C. Bullock 

Mrs. Effie Loomis Hugh M. Mills 

Archie Brown T. T. Simmons 

W. C. Cronk 




In the Le Mans Area 151 

HE Y. M. C. A. personnel who served the passing 
troops in the Ballon area will long remember the old 
Chateau de Ballon which stands on the brow of the 
highest hill in the territory, with the beautiful shrine 
of the calvary nestling at its feet. It is safe to assume 
that few soldiers of the 30th, 37th, 29th or 81st divisions who occupied 
this area on their homeward journey, missed the opportunity to climb 
the winding stairway and drink in the beauties of the wonderful view 
of France's beautiful countryside from the balconies of this old relic 
of the Roman age. Built in the year 824 A. D., it stands like a sentinel 
keeping tireless guard, still sturdy and strong, an enduring monument 
to the patience and wonderful workmanship of its builders. 




IT WAS in December, 1918, that the streets of the little village of 
Ballon first echoed to the tread of American troops. The "Old 
Hickory" or Thirtieth Division, boys recruited from the Sunny South, 
were billeted in Ballon and the surrounding villages and towns — ap- 
proximately 25,000 men and 900 officers — remaining here until early 
March. The men were weary and nerve-shaken, just recovering from 
the shock of the terrific battering they had received at the front. They 
wanted to go home — and exile to the more or less uncomfortable billets 
in this area for an indefinite stay did not add to their peace of mind. 
It was evident that something had to be done, and the Y. M. C. A. 
set to work to find the solution to the problem. 

At this time the "Y" was beginning to get organized in the Le 
Mans region, transportation was hard to get, and the bulk of the work 
to be undertaken for "Old Hickory" boys fell upon the shoulders of a 
few. Of course, there was the usual "Y" tent which served as a warm, 
cheery gathering place for the men; there was the canteen with hot 
chocolate and coffee, and even a piano with a few scattered sheets of 



152 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

music. But more than rest, the boys needed diversion. To a "Y" girl 
belongs the credit of suggesting the first local talent show put over in 
this area by soldier actors of the Second Battalion, 114th Infantry, 
30th Division, who were billeted in the small town of Torce. Re- 
hearsals began the Friday before Christmas and the actors found 
themselves faced with the tremendous task of not only providing the 
lines and action, but the costumes, scenery and stage. Rapid scout 
work among the good-natured French with much resultant fun and 
jollity secured a portion of the costumes; the platform was made from 
tables borrowed from the village cafe; army blankets made splendid 
curtains, and Christmas night the "show" made its initial appearance 
before a large and enthusiastic crowd in the "Y" tent. 

The keynote of diversion for the "Old Hickory" boys was thus 
struck, and the rest of their stay in the Ballon area was largely spent 
in the development and production of a soldier show which they 
proudly called "Hickory Nuts." To present this, the Y. M. C. A. 
secured the use of the only theatre in Ballon which had its entrance 
through a French cafe and which was promptly dubbed "Old Htckory 
Theatre." Trucks went out into the area on the nights on which per- 
formances were to be given and brought into Ballon the bored, lone- 
some boys so eager for this amusement. "Hickory Nuts" had a two 
months' run, playing two and sometimes three nights of each week to 
an ever-changing crowd. Performance over, there was alwa^'^s a rush 
for the "Y," where the canteen was open and hot chocolate was waiting 
to be served before loading the big trucks for the trip back to billets. 
At this stage in the game, the Welfare Service was crude and unde- 
veloped in comparison to what was later achieved, but the spirit of 
service and the hard work done accomplished a feeling of friendship 
and goodwill between the boys of the "Old Hickory" Division and the 
"Y" representatives, which will linger long in the hearts of both. 




THE COMING of the Thirty-seventh Division into the Ballon area, 
December 24, 1919, distinctly marked a challenge to the "Y." 
Over 25,000 men and about 800 officers occupied billets in Alencon 



In the Le Mans Ahea 153 

and vicinity, coming into this area from Belgium, where they had been 
resting after their test of service in the Argonne Forest. It was 
claimed that up to that time the "Y" had done nothing for the Thirty- 
seventh Division and the attitude of men and officers alike was dis- 
tinctly that of "make good or quit." 

The Division was first expected to occupy billets in St. Calais and 
the surrounding towns, and the "Y" set busily to work establishing 
canteens to meet the incoming troops. The work was well under way 
when a sudden change in the Army's plans sent the troops to Alencon 
and vicinity, and all the work of preparation had to be done over 
again. Fourteen "Y" men and one "Y" girl left St. Calais December 
23, arriving in Alencon the twenty-fourth, and started their work of 
service by preparing a Christmas dinner for 64 enlisted men, the 
advance guard of the Thirty-seventh Division, just arrived cold, tired 
and hungry — and it is safe to state that for once the Red Triangle sign 
looked most comforting to at least a few boys who wore the Buckeye 
insignia. But the battle had just begun. 

It was a difficult proposition which the "Y" was facing that cold, 
wintry weather. The "Y" Headquarters — Le Mans, was fully 45 
kilometers away ; the troops were billeted in over 40 different towns, 
distant from five to twenty-five kilometers from Alencon; it was neces- 
sary to truck all supplies from Le Mans, and deliver them to the 
different huts and canteens — and there were only twenty "Y" men and 
four "Y" girls to put over the job. But the spirit with which these 
twenty-four undertook their difficult work would not be denied. Bit 
by bit the task was put over — for weeks and months they covered 
the territory under most disagreeable weather conditions, serving free 
to the boys good hot chocolate, good advice and cheer, until huts and 
canteens became more thickly established, a rolling canteen made its 
appearance and relieved them of the more arduous trips, and they were 
free to turn their minds and hands to greater plans for welfare. 

Sincere thanks must be extended to the officers and enlisted men of 
the Thirty-seventh for their cooperation. Once convinced that the "Y" 
intended to give the utmost possible in service to the "Buckeye" boys, 
they rendered every possible assistance. It was not long before educa- 
tional classes were formed and supervised in Alencon and writing and 
reading rooms were furnished. A theatre building was leased and the 
Entertainment Department supplied entertainment and motion pic- 
tures. The Athletic Department furnished athletic events and when 
February 20 came and the boys of the Thirty-seventh departed for 



154 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

home, their commanding officer, General Farnsworth, repaid all the 
sacrifices that had been made and all the pains that had been taken 
when he said: "The Y. M. C. A. has always given good service, but 
never has this Division been so well cared for as during its brief stop 
in the Ballon area." The "Y" had met its challenge. 




THE BOYS of the "Blue and Gray" made a flying visit to the 
Ballon area in April, 1919, but they found the "Y" ready and 
waiting to give them the best service they had ever had from this 
organization. After subsisting upon hardtack and "bully beef" for 
68 hours, practically 16,000 men stepped off the troop trains at 
Beaumont to be met by a "Y" man and a detail of "Y" girls, who had 
fully prepared to furnish that nourishment for the inner man so neces- 
sary to his mental well being. They were ushered in lines of four into 
a big "Y" tent, where a steaming cup of chocolate and a package of 
cakes was given to every man. "The Y. M. C. A. put it over strong this 
time," said Captain Louis B. Walker, Army Detraining Officer with the 
Twenty-ninth Division, to the hustling "Y" man as he scurried around 
to see that no one was overlooked, "and they proved a life-saver for 
these thousands of men who have just been through one of the most 
unpleasant experiences of their service — riding several days on cold 
troop trains, standing up most of the time, and with cold rations only. 
They surely needed something hot." 

It took five days for these men to reach the Ballon area, during 
which time the "Y" girls worked on eight-hour shifts that the canteen 
might always be ready for emergency with plenty of chocolate ready at 
all times. But the end was finally reached and the boys settled very 
comfortably into their billets while the "Y" played the game of God- 
father to them all. There were entertainments and motion picture 
shows, chocolate barrages and dances — ^while the weather had so 
beautifully cleared up that the countryside was delightfully fresh and 



In the Le Mans Area 155 

green, with glorious sunshine which proved the title "Sunny France" 
not so far wrong after all. But the Twenty-ninth Division boys were 
in luck. Only five days after the last man had arrived at his billet, 
orders were given to pack up and move on toward that magic land 
across the sea. Once more the "Y" girls went into eight-hour shifts 
of canteen service, while the old "Y" tent at the entraining point 
hummed with activity. It was a strenuous time getting these happy 
lads started on one more lap toward home — but not a member of the 
"Y" personnel will ever regret any sacrifice made, or any of the back- 
aching work which kept the boys in smiling humor. 




SIXTEEN THOUSAND men and 500 officers of the Eighty-first 
or "Wildcat" Division were the next troops to occupy the Ballon 
area. Fortunately the busy "Y" workers had a few days' rest between 
the leaving of the Twenty-ninth and the entry of the first troops of 
the Eighty-first, and were refreshed and ready to receive them. With 
rapid despatch the detraining troops were fed with lemonade and cake, 
if arriving by day, and hot chocolate and cakes if by night, given a 
hearty and smiling welcome as they passed on to the towns where they 
were to be billeted. At this time, the "Y" organization had reached a 
high point of efficiency and was able to put on welfare programmes 
which had not before been equalled in this area. 

The canteen, around which much of the comfort of man centers, was 
always running; supplies in abundance were delivered into the area 
daily; athletic goods, movies, lectures and entertainments found their 
way into the tiniest village, and the Y. M. C. A. personnel was always 
on the job. That their work was of the highest type and much appre- 
ciated by those whose business it was to follow same closely can best 
be shown by the following excerpt from a letter written by Major- 
General C. J. Bailey, Commandant of the Eighty-first Division, 



156 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

directed to Y. M. C. A. Secretary in charge of the welfare work. He 
says: "On the eve of the departure of this Division for the United 
States, the commanding general desires to express his thanks and 
appreciation for the splendid work of the Y. M. C. A. secretaries and 
helpers who have served with the Division in France. 

"Probably the most valuable work which has been done by the 
Y. M. C. A. was in the areas which the Division occupied after the 
signing of the armistice. During this period the men did not have the 
same incentives which had kept up their spirits before the armistice; 
they realized their work was done and they were only awaiting their 
turn to go home; and it was only natural they should be somewhat 
homesick and that their morale would suffer. 

"But the Y. M. C. A. set out with determined efforts to counteract 
these tendencies. Huts with canteen service were established in every 
station; local entertainments were encouraged by the secretaries and 
costumes provided. Moving picture machines were brought in and a 
schedule established that gave every station two picture shows in a 
week; a library was established, so there was no lack of reading 
matter. 

"There can be no doubt that the high state of morale which exists in 
the Division today, is, in a large measure, due to the excellent work of 
the Y. M. C. A." 

It was the object of the "Y" personnel to keep the "Wildcats" so 
busy that the frequent postponing of the home trip could be borne 
almost with a smile. But the time came at last when Arnw orders 
said "Pack up and go" and all energies were turned toward the last 
lap of the journey to the big ships. The area was gradually closed 
out, supplies salvaged and the personnel — those who did not return 
with the Division which they had served so well — drifted into other 
regions and other work. The Americans had come and gone, and the 
old Chateau de Ballon on. its hilltop high, is guarding the quiet village 
streets and pleasant countryside as it was before the American invasion. 
It has viewed many a strange scene since its erection, but there will 
long remain memories of the stalwart buddies from across the sea who 
passed so hurriedly, but left such a lasting impression. 



1 



In the Le Mans Area 157 

LA FERTE-BERNARD 
Sub Base of Northwest Area 




NINETY-FIRST DIVISION 

CLIFFORD W. HAIG Division Secretary 

O. L, FERRIS - Assistant Division Secretary 

WILLIS H. WARD _ _ ....Office Executive 

LAMAR H. WjATERS Business Secretary 

J. W. CADLE Accountant 

H. G. BROTHERS Cashier 

HARRY G. FISHER ......Entertainment Director 

C. C. HAMILTON Religious Director 

ROLAND BATSON Athletic Secretary 

O. RAUDABAUGH Athletic Secretary 

O. E. BAKER Educational Director 

J. L. COULTER Educational Secretary 

A. C. MINEAR Educational Secretary 

RUSSELL NELSON ..Educational Secretary 

C. M. SMALL Educational Secretary 

L. L. BROWN...... Hut Secretary 

J. H. BRUGGERS Motor Transport 

NEIL CAMPBELL .....Hut Secretary 

C. A. DRUMMOND Hut Secretary 

N. A. EDMONDS Hut Secretary 

G. M. FULLER Hut Secretary 

H. INBUSH Hut Secretary 

G. W. JOHNSON. Motor Transport 

R. H. McCULLAGH Hut Secretary 

J. H. McGILL Hut Secretary 

J. W. McGINNIS Hut Secretary 

H. B. STECKER Motor Transport 



158 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

J. W. YOUNG Hut Secretary 

E. H. WILLIAMS Hut Secretary 

W. G. WJNN ...Hut Secretary 

H. J. WILLIAMS Telephone Director 

L. E. HATHEWAY Hut Secretary 

J. A. CHRISTIAN Hut Secretary 

W. W. REID Hut Secretary 

PAUL TREPLE Hut Secretary 

G. I. SOVERIGN Hut Secretary 

Canteen Workers 

Elizabeth Cahoon Mabel Sheridan 

Louise Clarke Gertrude Brady 

Charlotte Crane Miss Lesley 
Mrs. E. Lewis 



1 


i 



A FERTE-BERNARD, a sub-base of the Northwest 
area, occupies the extreme northwest section of the Le 
Mans area. In general characteristics it is not unlike 
other French villages in this part of France. The same 
main thoroughfare, stretching from one end of the town 
to the other, the familiar public square and market place, with smaller 
open spaces in other local centers of congregation, the ever-present 
stone cathedral which looms large as one approaches the town, and the 
narrow cobble-paved streets- — all these and more comprise the typical 
French city of La Ferte-Bernard. 

The town itself is on a hill from which may be seen some distance 
away an ancient castle. This structure is really situated in a swamp. 
It was defended by a double circle of walls, separated by deep moats 
filled with running water from two rivers. Big and Little Perch, it 
being possible to strengthen the defenses by flooding the swamps adja- 
cent to the castle. The city was surrounded by walls with moats. It 
was entered by three great gates ; the gate of Paris, the gate of Orleans 
and the gate of Le Mans. This region is notable as the home of the 
Percheron horses, of world-wide fame. 

Into this area and in this environment the Ninety-first Division 
moved during late December, 1918, and early January, 1919, and this 
Division was the only complete one that ever occupied La Ferte, 



In the Le Mans Area 159 

though many scattered units passed through the region and were 
quartered for different periods of time in its villages and hamlets for 
miles around. 

The Y. M. C. A. in this area was notable for the devotion of its 
personnel and the efficiency of the service rendered. The work started 
in the midwinter, under the most trying conditions and in the face of 
almost insurmountable obstacles. 

The Ninety-first Division remained in the area from January until 
the last week in March and all this time the "Y" was on the job. 

Major-General Johnston, in command of the Division, at the dedi- 
cation of the Y. M. C. A. huts at the Forwarding Camp, March 30, 
spoke substantially as follows in appreciation of the work of the 
Association : 

"We of the Ninety-first appreciate the Y. M. C. A. thoroughly, for 
from the time the Ninety-first Division arrived in France the Y. M. 
C. A. have added much to the entertainment and the supplies furnished 
the Division while fighting and while waiting for the fighting. The 
Y. M. C. A. secretaries were on the fighting line at the Argonne woods, 
dressing the wounded men regardless of the danger to themselves and 
placing themselves at the mercy of snipers from the German lines. A 
number of "Y" men have been recommended for the D. S. C. At a 
time when the ambulances were insufficient at the front the Y. M. C. A. 
and the Red Cross could be found along the roadside feeding the 
wounded and binding up their wounds, thus saving many lives. The 
Army is especially indebted to the Welfare organizations for not only 
supplying physical wants of the men, but for furnishing the best kind 
of entertainment and boosting up the morale of the soldier. The 
American soldier has been taught to command and to obey, but they 
have also had a spiritual elevation born of their experiences at the 
front. And to the Y. M. C. A. the Division owes more than to any 
other Welfare organization for the reason that the Association has a 
larger personnel." 

Almost all the men of the Ninety-first Division were from the 
Pacific Coast, and the majority great big fellows, with singularly low 
speaking voices. They were a talented lot of men, too, and singers, 
players of various instruments. So that if a show failed for some 
reason to appear, it was almost always possible to organize an im- 
promptu vaudeville from the audience. 

The Division departed the last week of March, the last troops leav- 
ing Nogent March 31. They were served hot chocolate and cookies at 



160 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

the station, by the rolling canteen workers who took charge; the men 
had magazines and cigarettes, and departed in high spirits. Since then 
until June 9, when the "Y" Hut at La Ferte passed out of existence, 
the town was never full, but was occupied by companies of two 
different battalions of M. P.'s, by members of Sanitary trains, and the 
Town Major's Staff. With the giving up on April 1 of the dry canteen, 
the work became different. It was chiefly to amuse the boys in their 
leisure hours during the day and in the evenings, and owing to the 
small number of men was far more personal. One came to realize more 
than ever what a lot of homesick children they are, responsive and 
appreciative. 

There were still dances and hardly was one over before they began 
clamoring for the next. There were also "shows" in the theatre, al- 
though less frequently, and several times movies in the public market 
square, where the French populace also enjoyed them. 

Typical canteen service by the Y. M. C. A. in this area is well illus- 
trated by the following experience of a "Y" girl who relates it in her 
own words: 

"The Sunday following my arrival I was despatched on ten minutes' 
notice to Nogent-le-Rotrou to make coffee for three thousand arriving 
soldiers of the Ninety-first Division and to remain for two or three 
days. The two or three days became nearly five months. I had no 
equipment for this, but was told to apply to the Army. 

"The 'Y' secretary took me down to his mess, with a company of 
Supply Train already arrived. There the Army cooks, fortunately for 
me, took charge of things. It was a rainy day, the spot which was 
pronounced most suitable was a muddy road near the railway station, 
and with the green wood at our disposal I wondered how a fire could 
ever be kindled. But the Army cooks were not to be daunted. A tar- 
paulin shelter was quickly set up on two poles and tied between trees, 
two huge thirty-gallon containers were set over paving stones, bor- 
rowed from the roadside, the green wood was induced to burn by liberal 
dashes of gasoline and kerosene and sooner than it seemed possible 
water was boiling, the coffee well under way. The troops had been 
expected at Sunday noon, but the first train load did not arrive until 
late that night, when they had been given up and everyone had re- 
tired. The next morning we were on the job for the trains, and all that 
day and the next they kept coming. A large G. I. can was set out 
in the middle of the muddy road, the men filed past on each side, and 
a soldier and I dipped out the coffee all sweetened and with milk. 



In the Le Mans Area l6l 

and poured it into the outheld mess cups, the rain drizzling down 
steadily. It was fun to hear the comments: 'An American woman.' 
'Say, Miss, are you really American.?' and 'Gee, it's good to hear an 
American woman speak.' 

"After those two days there were only occasional trains, although 
more than half the Division passed through Nogent, besides the 2,000 
or more quartered in the town itself, and detail from the last train 
supplied the companies with coffee, while the "Y" secretary and I 
busied ourselves moving into the new hut rented because of the in- 
creased demand for space. It was a large building intended for recre- 
ation purposes, and a dry canteen was installed at one end; at the 
other was a billiard table and writing tables, while the center space 
during the winter served the following purposes : Reading and writing 
room, basketball court (and many were the games played there), dance 
hall, and twice a ring was erected and boxing matches held, place for 
Sunday evening religious services, and on three occasions a dormitory. 
Once for soldiers returning from German prison camps, once for a 
large number of casuals for whom it was impossible to find billets in 
the crowded town. 

"The dry canteen was most amusing in spite of the work. Of course, 
the boys growled and grumbled if they could not buy their favorite 
brand of cigarette, which so often was the one it was impossible for us 
to obtain, whether from "Y" sources or trips to the nearest commis- 
sary. But they could usually be 'jollied' out of this mood, and usually 
ended by going away in a cheerful frame of mind or tarrying to play 
the piano, billiards or lean over the counter and talk. 

"The 'Y' entertainments and the Sunday morning services were 
held in the French theatre, and every night but Sunday, when the 
French had movies, there was something. Some of the most amusing 
shows were those gotten up by the boys themselves, and the 31 6th gave 
a number of these. 

"Early in January the writer became Hut Secretary in full charge, 
and although it meant more than 12 hours a day work almost every 
day, it was so interesting that one hardly thought of fatigue. About 
this time we gave our first dance, with a few 'Y' girls available and two 
or three French girls who were persauded to do the unheard of thing 
and come to dance with American soldiers. When they saw how v/ell 
conducted the men were, and when they heard Am.erican dance music 
played by the regimental band, they must have enjoyed themselves. 



162 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

for after that at each dance, and we gave them fortnightly, the num- 
ber of nice French girls increased. 

"In January the wet canteen was opened, and we hoped to serve 
hot chocolate three times a week, but alas, owing to the arrangement 
by which whenever the cocoa boiler was moved to be washed, the 
chimney pipe which also was the chimney pipe of the canteen stove, 
fell down, it was impossible to do this and we usually limited ourselves 
to free cocoa and "cookies" as the boys called the sweet crackers, on 
Sunday afternoons. They praised the cocoa, even when we did not 
think it quite up to the mark, and one evening it did happen to be 
especially good, one man amazed me by saying: 'This is as good as 
I could make in America,' and then explained that he was a profes- 
sional cocoa cook." 

Another Welfare woman worker. Miss Leslie, who arrived in Le 
Mans about one o'clock on Christmas morning, went two days later to 
La Ferte. She, with Mrs. Lewis, whose story appears above, were the 
only two American women in their respective towns. Miss Leslie stated 
that on the Sunda}'^ before New Year's Day, she with two "Y" men 
and the Army Chaplain, spent all day at the station of La Ferte wait- 
ing for a troop train which was bringing in outfits of the Ninety-first 
Division. They were to serve them hot chocolate. The 8-40 (Shorses 
and 40 men) train did not arrive until 9 o'clock in the evening, but the 
men were served chocolate. This "Y" woman arranged a complete and 
varied programme of activities. Monday, Wednesday and Friday 
nights, moving pictures, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights, 
entertainments, and once in a while a dance. On Sunday there was a 
service in the morning and a band concert at night. Inter-company 
basketball games, stunt nights and an indoor field meet were features. 
Next to the building used for the dry canteen and entertainment, was 
the reading and writing room, and subsequently a wet canteen was set 
up and operated. 




In the I.e Mans Area 



163 




1. Le Chateau — Bonnetable. 2. The Eternal Stone Home of the Roadside. 3. A Lonely 

By-way. 4. Wine Grower's Home Near Connerre. 5. Typical Brittany Thatched Roofs. 

6. In Old Rennes. 7. Gateway to La Ferte-Bernard 



164 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

SOUTHEAST AREA 

ECOMMOY HEADQUARTERS 

PERSONNEL 

H. A. EASTMAN - Area Supervisor 

H. E. DIXON - -— - Accountant 

M. P. McCLURE Religious Secretary 

W. A. WILDING Entertainment Secretary 

J. C. KING - - - Athletic Secretary 

HERBERT RAMSEY _ Transportation Secretary 

W. M. SHEWRY - -- Warehouse Secretary 

LOUISE SAVARESE. Hut Secretary 



TWENTY-SIXTH DIVISION 

PAUL L. EVANS Divisional Secretary 

R. A. BASHAM Business Secretary 

GUY F. PONDER .....Accountant 

WALTER LOOMIS -- Warehouse Manager 

D. M. THOMAS Educational Secretary 

W. W. HOWELL ...Athletic Secretary 

C. I. RAMSAY - - .....Religious Secretary 

A. E. SHORT Cashier 

HERBERT RAMSAY .....Transportation Secretary 

L. L. WOODS - - Hut Secretary 

W. D. TAYLOR _. _ Hut Secretary 

T. L. SPEIDEN Hut Secretary 

R. H. WHITE : Hut Secretary 

A. F. CARLYLE.... Hut Secretary 

H. E. DERR ...Hut Secretary 

W. J. BAKER _ _ ...Hut Secretary 

B. V. JOHNSON __ Hut Secretary 

M. A. CASSIDY Hut Secretary 

C. W. COIT ...Hut Secretary 

J. B. MORRIS - _ ......Hut Secretary 

B. WHITMAN Hut Secretary 

ISAAC PATCH... Hut Secretary 

J. J. CARRINGTON ..Secretary 

C. C. YERKES.. Secretary 

WM. C. GORDON Secretary 

MR. KARLSON Secretary 



In the Le Mans Area 165 

Canteen Workers 
Miss Louise Savarese Miss Ann Elliott 
Mrs. L. W. Fleming Miss Ellen Hines 

Mrs. Augusta Haring Mrs. Georgia E. Hobbs 
Miss Jane Singer 



EIGHTIETH DIVISION 

PAUL L. EVANS Divisional Secretary 

H. A. EASTMAN Business Secretary 

H. E. DIXON— - ^ Accountant 

M. P. McCLURE Religious Director 

L. U. KING Transportation Director 

C. T. BROWN Warehouse Director 

J. S. DEAN.. Hut Secretary 

M. W. COATES Hut Secretary 

J. E. DICKERSON Hut Secretary 

CHAS. GUY Hut Secretary 

L. E. ALLEN Hut Secretary 

J. L. STILL.. Hut Secretary 

CHAS. CLARK Hut Secretary 

BENJAMIN WHITMAN Hut Secretary 

A. R. MERRITT... Hut Secretary 

H. D. SMITH Hut Secretary 

R. H. WHITE Hut Secretary 

J. B. MORRIS Hut Secretary 

W. J. McLaughlin Hut secretary 

B. K. HAY Hut Secretary 

ETENRY J. PECK. Hut Secretary 

J. K. HOWARD Hut Secretary 

T. L. SPEIDEN Hut Secretary 

Canteen Workers 
Edith Davidson Elizabeth P. Myers 

Clara E. Stoup Rachel Higgins 

Marion Moore Elizabeth Arnold 

Olive Moss Jane Singer 

Sarah McDonald Elizabeth Snyder 

Amy Green Catherine Hopkins 

Louise Savarese Mary V. Osborn 

Josephine Hammond Mrs. E. B. Cartwright 

Ruth McClelland Constance Crawford 

Anne F. Elliott 



166 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 




EFORE LE MANS became an official embarkation cen- 
ter, the town of Ecommoy was one of those used as a 
forwarding point. The Y. M. C. A. hut was started 
in an abandoned French dance hall on November 16, 
1918. There was the usual wet and dry canteen, then 
later a rough stage was built to accommodate the shows put on by the 
talent of the 3 29th Infantry. This troop remained with the town, 
and did much toward helping the secretary. Miss Louise Savarese, to 
amuse the men of the companies going through Ecommoy. In Decem- 
ber, Laura Sherry of the "Wisconsin Players" arrived in Ecommoy to 
help put on a Christmas party. This took the form of an old Christmas 
Festival of the English Court days, with carollers, jesters, king and 
queen attendants, etc., with the soldiers as actors and the French 
people as audience. Needless to say, this proved one of the most inter- 
esting programs put on for the soldiers in France that memorable 
Christmas time, for it was a celebration of Yule-tide, and it included 
the soldiers themselves as actors. Christmas Day, a huge Christmas 
tree for 600 French children in the neighborhood formed as great a 
piece of interest to the American soldiers as of delight to the children 
themselves. The men had raised the mony for the presents to the 
kiddies; Miss Savarese had done the shopping in Paris and had made 
the children's stockings, which the men of the 329th Infantry, Colonel 
McDermott, General Glenn, Mary Roberts Rhinehart, Miss Sherry and 
Miss Savarese distributed among the throng of children. To the men 
themselves the Y. M. C. A. gave Christmas gifts of candy, cigarettes 
and tobacco. 

After Le Mans became an embarkation center, and Ecommoy became 
a headquarters town of one of the many areas which made up Le Mans 
region, two divisions passed successively; the 26th and 80th Divisions. 




THE Twenty-sixth Division arrived in Ecommoy area January 27 
from the training area in Northeastern France. The Y. M. C. A. 
had not been able to reach these men at the front, hence their attitude 
towards the Association was far from friendly. The secretaries, two 



In the Le Mans Area 



167 



women and fifteen men were quick to recognize the difficulty, and 
threw their utmost energies and resources into the serious task of 
affecting a belated compensation. 

Canteens were established, even though the accommodations were 
often distressingly poor, and kept open from 8 :00 a. m. to 9 :00 p. m. 
Each man was allowed to buy his limit, which, of course, meant that 
supplies ran short very quickly. But any restrictions or regulations 
upon their buying were those tacitly understood among the men them- 
selves, for the "Y" gave freely of all it could get, and each day sent a 
French horsecart to town to haul supplies from the Army Commissary 
and from the Y. M.. C. A. warehouse. Through persistent effort, 
cocoa was served in many of the canteens every day, instead of the 
usual three times a week. The "Y" secretaries were studiously diligent 
in their efforts to be of general service wherever possible ; in sort, they 
tried to make the Y. M. C. A. the S. O. S. of favors and little acts of 
accommodation as well as for sweets and supplies. 

In January and February, twenty-three Y. M. C. A. canteens of 
more or less attractiveness, were in operation over the Ecommoy area. 

The situation of entertainments during the stay of the Twenty- 
sixth Division in the Ecommoy area improved from ten in January to 
260 in March; the athletic events from to 120; the religious services 
from 14 to 78; the educational classes from none to 1200, and the 
cinema shows from to 62, in the corresponding length of time. 

As was the case in every area in the A. E. F., the months of January 
and February especially were drab and empty to the soldiers waiting 
to go home, but certainly the personnel of the Ecommoy area made 
every effort to tender Y. M. C. A. service to the Twenty-sixth Division. 




THE Eightieth Division was in the Ecommoy area about six weeks — 
from April 1 to May 16. This division fell heir to the canteens 
established for the Twenty-sixth Division, in addition to new ones 
which were made possible by the better equipment of the Y. M. C. A. 
in France by this time. A personnel of 49 secretaries was able to 
serve the men while in this area with some degree of satisfaction. 



168 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 




F,COMMr>Y .AREA. IN PICTURE 
1. St. Ouen en Belin "Y" Quarters Through Courtesy of Parish Priest. 2 and 3. Canteen 
Service at Military Tournament at Econimoy. 4. Set for Road Service to Passing Troops. 
5. Tent at St. Biez. 6. "Y" Tent Adjoining Church in Town Square of Miserey. 
7. Splendid Quarters at La Fleche. 8. Welcome "Y" Sign Through a Back Door. 
9. Sometimes the Rooms Were Spacious. 10. Alley Entrance to "Y" at Ecommoy. 



In the Le Mans Area 169 

The Entertainment Department handling this Division had become 
particularly well organized. During the stay of the Division in the 
Ecommoy area 509 vaudeville and movie shows were "put over." To 
say that the men appreciated the splendid showing is putting it mildly. 
The officers also were well pleased with the excellent results attained. 
General Kronkhite, the commanding general, wrote the Entertainment 
Department as follows: "Your work was entered into in the spirit of 
cooperation, and was constant, intelligent and bore excellent results. 
The manner in which you aided us in securing musical instruments was 
splendid. It was in no small measure due to your efforts that the 
Eightieth Division became one of the very best entertained Divisions 
in the A. E. F." 

The Ecommoy area was luckily provided with men who made it a 
point that the boys were to get the entertainment provided no matter 
what the conditions were. For instance, on April 4 Corporal Clemens 
and Sergeant Rhodes were ordered to Comant to put on a movie. There 
was no "Y" hut or tent in the town and it was raining steadily. The 
orders had been "put on the show or bust." Sergeant Rhodes asked tie 
C. O. to locate a place for the show even if it were a hole in the ground 
The suggestion bore excellent results for the Captain remembered there 
was a cave under his billet and asked the boys if they could show there. 

"Lead us to it," said Rhodes. 

And thus it came that in a cave 107 feet long, 14- feet wide and 14 
feet high the 313 F. A. had their movie that rainy night. 

Other stories might be told of the persistence and ingenuity of the 
entertainment men and of the appreciation of the soldier of their suc- 
cessful efforts to give them shows. The Eightieth Division was sent 
away, on its first lap toward home with the usual chocolate barrage, 
served by permanent personnel of the Division and the Ecommoy area 
secretaries. 




170 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

MONTFORT AND CONNERRE 

TWENTY-SEVENTH DIVISION PERSONNEL 

JOHN BARNES .Divisional Secretary 

WILLIAM O'GRADY Business Secretary 

WILLIAM VAN DYKE Cashier 

NORMAN WANN _ Athletic Secretary 

ROSCOE C. SMITH Secretary 

EDWARD L. GRACE __ ...Secretary 

WILFORD C. GORDON Secretary 

HERMAN OSTIEN .....S.ecretary 

HAROLD B. THOMAS Secretary 

OLIVER ANDERSON Secretary 

CHARLES YERKES Secretary 

FRANK C. WARD .......Secretary 

CLAUDE D. SeCHEVERELL Secretary 

LEWIS IRVING .....Secretary 

HENRY ARMSTRONG... .......Secretary 

GEO. B. ARMiSTRONG Secretary 

ERNEST WELLMAN .Secretary 

JAMES A. CAPPS Secretary 

CARL KILPATRICK Secretary 

DAVID WALKER ...Secretary 

HOMER N. BOWMAN... ..Secretary 

OLIVER WEBSTER Secretary 

RAYMOND TALCOTT. Secretary 

Canteen WTorkers 
Edith Becker Laura Heath 

Charlotte Kreinheder Kate Greenlaw 
Annie Lee Emelie A. Plume 



THIRTY-FIFTH DIVISION 
PERSONNEL 

ABRAM R. REEVES Divisional Secretary 

GEO. F. HOWARD Athletic Secretary 

FRANK D. PARENT Asst. Athletic Secretary 

WM. B. STEVENS Religious Secretary 

JOHN R. WYND Business Secretary 

H. P. BURD Asst. Business Secretary 

CHAS. C. YERKES Cashier 

ROBERT GOOD Entertainment Secretary 



In the Le Mans Area 171 

B. M. STEVENS Religious Secretary 

S. L. EBY Educational Secretary 

JAMES CORNEILSON Transportation Secretary 

RAYMOND TALCOTT Asst. Transportation Secretary 

R. C. SMITH Secretary 

P. T. McFEELEY Secretary 

H. B. THOMAS Secretary 

L. C.NICHOLS Secretary 

E. E. WELLMAN Secretary 

G. B. ARMSTEAD Secretary 

W. A. RICE... Secretary 

CHAS.O.PATE Secretary 

SAMUEL DOWNER Secretary 

L. A. GILBERT ..Secretary 

A. F. JOHNSON __Secnetary 

J. H. THOMAS __.____Secretary 

^- C. REED Secretary 

H. M. STEWART Secretary 

GEO. W. CASTANIEN Secretary 

HUGHS. McKEE Secretary 

A. T. WATERS Secretary 

Canteen Workers 

Marguerite Rose Annie Lee 

Helen Pedrick Winifred Jones 

Elizabeth Marshal Sarah King 

Mabel Lind Emilie A. Plume 

Ada Brittingham Mrs. Kate Greenlaw 

Charlotte Kreinheder Edith O. Clark 

Edith Becker Reba Ullian 

Rachel Higgins Irene Dayton 

Laura Heath Frances Herring 

THIRTY-SIXTH DIVISION 
PERSONNEL 

J. GARFIELD KING Divisional Secretary 

E. A. STRAWBRIDGE ....Business Manager 

A. D. WHITTLE .......Accountant 

F. E. WILLIAM'S Cashier 

ARTHUR TAYLOR Wlarehouse Superintendent 

C. S. MARCH Educational Director 

r. M. DAVIS Entertainment Director 



172 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

J. H. STITT - Religious Director 

G. H. HAYES Athletic Director 

J. D. VANCE Cinema Director 

L. N. CUSHMAN - - Song Leader 

HERMAN KELLEB Song Leader 

JEFF REYNOLDS - Secretary 

H. B. JENNINGS Secretary 

J. H. EDGAR - - - Secretary 

J. F. EGGLESTON Secretary 

A. D. STROUD _ ______ ....Secretary 

J. E. JONES , Secretary 

W. A. RIPLEY _ _-_ Secretary 

D. L. SADLER _ _ _ Secretary 

H. W. KNOX _ Secretary 

C. C. STEWART ....._ _ Secretary 

J. R. PRYOR - _ Secretary 

WM. G. SINGLETON Secretary 

H. B. WILLIAMS Secretary 

L. W. DRAKE__ _ Secretary 

E. W. THORNBERRY _ _ Secretary 

F. A. SPENCER _ Secretary 

GEO. F. HARBRIDGE __ ___ Secretary 

W. C. VAN HORN __ __ __ Secretary 

S. H. SMITH __ ______ .....Secretary 

CHAS. MORGAN _ _.__ _ _ Secretary 

J. S. STONE _ _ .._ __ Secretary 

J. B. KOONCE _ Secretary 

LEWIS STONE ______ Secretary 

MRS. BERTHA L. CARNEY Office Secretary 

MISS PATTIE SOUTHHALL_ Accompanist 

Canteen Workers 

Mrs. J. M. Hunn Miss Julia E. Sperry 

Miss Mary Deland Miss Martha Kinsey 

Miss Carolyn Emerson Miss Barbara Waldo 

Miss Hallie Jameson Miss Louise B. Eubank 

Miss Lucile M. Tom Miss Catherine Faulkner 

Miss Maud Walker Miss Anne McCague 

Miss Dorothy L. Potter Miss Vista Black 

Miss Rebecca Stewart Miss Eleanor Leonard 

Miss Cynthia Knowles Miss Mary G. Paxton 

Miss Amie Cornick Miss Anna T. Blanton 

Miss Maud Morris Miss Mary Goetchius 



^M%1 


^^ 



In the Le Mans Area 173 

'HE CONNERRE section was successively occupied 
by three Divisions, the Twenty-seventh, comprising 
men from New York State; the Thirty-fifth, the Na- 
tional Guards of Missouri and Kansas ; and the Thirty- 
sixth, also National Guards from Texas and Oklahoma. 




THE Twenty-seventh Division occupied the area by far the long- 
est period. It moved from the front about Thanksgiving, and 
remained until forwarded to Brest in February. As was true of nearlv 
all of the A. E. F. history, in the battle of Waiting to Go Home, these 
were the darkest and most discouraging days. Then billets were un- 
comfortable and scarce, mail was deranged, "flu" was raging at home, 
entertainments and movies were not available in a systematized circuit, 
the delcos had not arrived, Y. M. C. A. tents were scarce, the rooms 
rented from the French were discouragingly small and unattractive ; 
in short, the cognac joints had little competition. Eventually four- 
permanent movies were installed in the area, and pictures three times 
a week at these places were made possibl.e The first Y. M. C. A 
tents came in about Christmas. Not many girls had been sent over here 
then, and most of the canteens were operated by one man. Difficulties 
in coordination between the Le Mans office and the outlying districts 
often resulted in audiences without pictures and pictures without audi- 
ences, the latter happening because poor transportation brought the 
entertainment to the towns after the soldiers had gone to bed. Those 
were the darkest days of the Connerre area, literally as well as fig- 
uratively. 

The arrival of the women workers was, as usual, a Red Letter Day 
of the Division. Women had not been allowed in the British area in 
which the Twenty-seventh did its fighting, thus one can easily imagine 
what it meant to the American men to see American women arriving 
for work among them in their Y. M. C. A. huts. 

The Twenty-seventh Division was sent away with the usual choco- 
late barrage, and the appreciation of the men indicated that much ot^ 
the hardships and privations of the previous weeks were forgotten in 
the earnest effort of the "Y" men and women to send them away with 
this service. 




THE MOST UNIQUE "Y" IN LE MANS REGION. OLD FISH MARKET 



In the Le Mans Area 175 




THE Thirty-fifth Division moved into the area in March and re- 
mained there three weeks. Although canteens operated for the 
Twenty-seventh were promptly reopened and new ones added wherever 
possible the question of entertainment was still a staggering one, 
since billeting space for Y. M. C. A. as well as the men's sleeping 
quarters, and the problem of transportation was still unsolved. Pitifully 
inadequate as were the efforts of the Cinema Department to entertain 
the men, the soldiers hungrily seized upon everything that was offered. 
Often when no room large enough to accommodate a movie show could 
be secured, the pictures were thrown on a screen nailed to some build- 
ing in the Town Square and the boys stood out in the open rain and 
sleet, eager spectators of the silent drama depicting scenes and people 
back home. Often the reels were broken, and the crowds of men must 
wait while they were mended, only to be run another few turns, and 
then another break. And still the audience stood patiently through to 
the end of the picture. 

Athletic .supplies were inadequate, too, but they were passed out to 
the best advantage possible, and truly served a splendid purpose. 

A real service possible by the Y. M. C. A. to this Division was the 
cashing of the French money of the soldiers into American at 5.15 
francs per dollar, as the Army had made no arrangements at that 
time for the exchanging of French money. 

Toward the close of the stay of the Thirty-fifth Division, appre- 
ciable quantities of Y. M. C. A. equipment had begun to arrive. Pianos 
became more plentiful, Victrolas and records, canteen equipment, sheet 
music, indoor athletic stuff, books and magazines, etc., made life in 
the Connerre area much more livable to the soldier than when thij 
Twenty-seventh Division was in the same area, or indeed when the 
Thirty-fifth was in its own winter quarters in Northeastern France. 



176 History of the Y. M. C. A. 




THE Thirty-sixth Division moved into the Connerre area in early 
May, and was distributed to thirty-nine small towns, all of which 
were touched by the Y. M. C. A. The Thirty-sixth brought its own 
personnel of 21 women and 18 men, and despite the fact that the area 
had been salvaged, (since the Thirty-sixth had been assigned to an- 
other quarter originally), the Y. M. C. A. speedily furnished an in- 
credible amount of chocolate, canteen equipment, lemonade ingredients, 
delcos, pianos, Victrolas, outdoor games, and the things which go to 
make a "Y" hut. 

The Thirty-sixth Division remained in the Le Mans area for about 
ten days, and the two biggest features of the stay were the chocolate 
barrages put over by the "Y" Connerre area secretaries, upon the 
arrival of the Division and the chocolate and lemonade served at the 
different entraining points by the Division personnel with the assist- 
ance of the rolling canteen personnel of Connerre at the departure of 
the Division. The energy and generosity of the Y. M. C. A. upon these 
occasions will long be remembered by the soldiers of Texas and 
Oklahoma. 

Entertainment provided during one week while the Thirty-fifth 
Division was in the area showed that contact was made with 26 of the 
36 points where the men were billeted. At most of the points there 
was something going on every night. During the week three enter- 
tainment companies and one mobile cinema outfit were under the direc- 
tion of the "Y" secretary and gave entertainments each night. Five 
other companies gave entertainments on one or more nights each week 
and six stationery cinema outfits were kept supplied with film programs 
which were used on nights when other forms of entertainment could 
not be provided. The entertainment office of the Army, Lieutenant 
Myers and the other Army officers heartily cooperated with the '.'Y" 
secretary in putting over these entertainments. 



In the Le Mans Area 



177 




AT MONTFORT 

1. Chateau at Vitre. 2. Saint Ceneri Near. Ballon. 3. Two Bluebirds in a Typical 

Village Street, i. Village Scene. 5. Roadside Scene 



178 History of the Y. M. C. A, 



M' 



Letters of Commendation 

"AJOR S. D. RIDINGS, commanding the 132nd Machine Gun 
Battalion of the Thirty-sixth Division, in token of appreciation 
of the excellent service which the Y. M. C. A. put over with his outfit, 
made this significant statement in a letter addressed to C. C. Stewart, 
"Y" secretary, before the departure of the Division for home: 

"I wish at this time to make a written expression for the members 
of the 132nd Machine Gun Battalion and myself of your (the Y. M. 
C, A.) service with us. It is with hearfelt appreciation that I thank 
you for your work and I can conscientiously say that you have done 
more to maintain and sustain the high morale of this Battalion than 
anyone else. We thank you, one and all, for your personal work and 
we wish you Godspeed on your return to America. 

"S. D. RIDINGS, 
"Major, 132nd M. G. Bn." 

Franklin L. Winter, First Lieutenant, Chaplain, U. S. A., wrote the 
following frank letter to the Divisional Y. M. C. A. secretary of the 
Thirty-fifth Division under date of March 30: 

"Knowing that there is considerable adverse criticism of the Y. M. 
C. A. in the Thirty-fifth Division, I wish, in all fairness, to supply 
you with the following list of benefits that the 128th Machine Gun 
Battalion, Thirty-fifth Division, has received from the Y. M. C. A. in 
France, between November 13, 1918, and March SOth, 1919. Everyone 
of these benefits has come under my personal observation. If you 
wish to use this testimony to support the fact that the Y. M. C. A. 
has been of value to the 128th M. G. Bn. you are free to do so. 

"Between the dates specified the Battalion has almost continually 
had an abundant supply of writing paper and envelopes, 200 library 
books, about 300 magazines, many religious booklets, enough New 
Testaments to supply the demand, 25 hymn books for church services, 
30 pieces of sheet music for the piano and the complete orchestration 
of six songs, and the music for four quartettes. 

"About December 21, 1918, each man received, as a Christmas gift, 
bar chocolate, pipe tobacco, cigars and cigarettes. 

"The Battalion has had almost all of the athletic material it has 
needed in the shape of boxing gloves, footballs, volleyballs, indoor 
baseballs, basketballs, volleyball net, ball bats, and rule books. 

"In the line of amusement, the Battalion has had six entertainment 
groups and seven moving picture performances. 



Tn the Le Mans Area 179 

"When leaving the Commercy area, just before entraining^ the 
Battalion was served with hot cocoa and cookies without charge; and 
upon arriving at Tresson hot cocoa, cookies and cigarettes were served 
without charge. 

"Also the Y. M. C. A. has been of great service in the exchange of 
American money and paper francs of other departments than the 
Battalion was in at the time and cashing of cheques and post office 
money orders. The cheques and post office money orders cashed 
amounted to at least 8,000 francs. 

"Possibly the greatest service the Y. M. C. A. has rendered our 
Battalion has been in canteen supplies. During the time specified, I 
have organized and managed a canteen for the Battalion, and have 
receipted bills to show that I purchased supplies from the Y. M. C. A. 
to the amount of 28,255.80 francs. Most of these supplies were abso- 
lutely unobtainable from the sales commissaries. Also, the Y. M. C. A. 
furnished me liberal credit ; and it is a fact that had it not been for this 
credit it would have been almost impossible to maintain the canteen. 

"If I am given an opportunity to testify in the investigation of 
welfare organizations in the Thirty-fifth Division, the above is the 
evidence I shall offer regarding the benefits of the Y. M. C. A. to the 
128th M. G. Bn. There are also other benefits which I have had per- 
sonally, but which are in no way connected with the Battalion. 
"Sincerely yours, 
"(Signed) FRANKLIN L. WINTER, 

First Lt. Chaplain, U. S. Army. 

"P. S.: My connection with the 128th M. G. Bn. began on Novem- 
ber 11, 1918." 




180 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

SOUTHWEST AREA 
LA SUZE HEADQUARTERS 
PERSONNEL 

HORACE M. BING - ....Area Supervisor 

OLIVER W. RHODES- - ...Business Secretary 

J. F. D. HOUCK - ...Religious Secretary 

CHARLES D. BRINDLE .....Transportation Secretary 

WHITFIELD ROGERS .Athletic Secretary 

W. F. GEISSMAN Asst. Athletic Secretary 

JAMES A. PATTILLO- - - Accountant 

SHIRLEY E. HARVORT Activities Secretary 

JOHN F. ULLOM._ _._ Y. M. C. A. Mess 

SEVENTY-SEVENTH DIVISION 
PERSONNEL 

ALFRED T. MORRILL Divisional Secretary 

F. W. GARLOUGH Business Secretary 

C. B. SPEER Associate Business Secretary 

A. B. COPE Educational Secretary 

W. J. BRAMAN Assistant Educational Secretary 

C. B. FISH ...Warehouse Manager 

A. L. GODFREY Religious Secretary 

F. E. HENDERSON Accountant 

THOS. KELLEY Athletic Secretary 

ALVA L. LONG Cashier 

LEROY NICHOLS- Educational Secretary 

R. E. SPRINGETT Transportation Secretary 

DAN TOBEY _ ....Athletic Secretary 

E. B. JACK Entertainment Secretary 

H. H. TODD- __. .Religious Secretary 

HARRY DANGERFIELD Associate Business Secretary 

H. WILLIAMS _ Athletic Secretary 

E. T. PACA___ __ ..Secretary 

O. L. BOWEN_ ...Secretary 

W. J. WEIR...... ...Secretary 

HARRY HALFACRE Secretary 

A. J. CLARK... Secretary 

H. L. THOMPSON Secretary 

W. A. STIMSON Secretary 

F. M. BELDEN Secretary 

J . C. RUGG — _ Secretary 



In the Le Mans Area 181 

S. R. LELAND__ Secretary 

L. C. HAYES - Secretary 

H. W. BLAIR — - Secretary 

PERCY NEWBERRY Secretary 

A. G. GILMER Transportation 

ELIZABETH WOOD... Women's Work Secretary 

Canteen Workers 

Marjorie Tompkins Mary Weeks 

Elizabeth Hazelhurst Leonore Flansburg 

Helen Hazelhurst Julia Fulton 

Julia Fulton Frances Jones 

R. Nell Blodgett Mary Belle Small 

Natalie Turner Tevan J. Bowman 



EIGHTY-EIGHTH DIVISION 
PERSONNEL 

ALFRED UPTON Divisional Secretary 

LEIGH L. BROWN Hut Secretary 

R. B. VAN WINKLE Hut Secretary 

H. H. GREEN .Hut Secretary 

BRUCE WRIGHT ...Hut Secretary 

WM. VENNART Hut Secretary 

WESLEY J. WEIR Hut Secretary 

JAMES S. STONE _ Hut Secretary 

H. L. THOMPSON Hut Secretary 

WM. A. STIMSON Hut Secretary 

C. W, ROGERS Hut Secretary 

ROBT. CAMPBELL Hut Secretary 

JAMES ROBERTSON Transportation Secretary 

J. E. CHAMBERS Secretary 

R. E. DUDDLES Secretary 

A. E. LYBELT Secretary 

F. MILLER Secretary 

BERT E. MITCHNER Secretary 

W. Y. MORGAN Secretary 

F. B. REESE _ Secretary 

R. R. RICHARDSON Secretary 

FLOYD E. RISLEY Secretary 

H. P. SAVAGE Secretary 

F. T. STEELE _ Secretary 

PAUL S. STRONG Secretary 



182 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 



J. W. STREET 

H. C. BARDEN 

H. H. GREEN - - 

W. B. JACKSON...-_ - 

C. G. TALCOTT ___ .- 

Canteen Workers 
Gertrude Kirk Frances Herring 



.Secretary 
.Secretary 
.Secretary 
.Secretary 
.Secretary 



Abbie Evans 
Elsie Geitz 
Mary A. Carroll 
Lucille Watters 
Alice Logan 
Mary Paxton 
Anna Blanton 
Elizabeth Wood 
Virginia Gogswell 
Imogene Hart 
Edith K. O. Clark 



Luida K. Miller 
Leila Nelson 
Katherine Terrill 
Sara E. Buck 
Esther Dunshee 
Margaret Reid 
Mildred Terrett 
Mave C. Olds 
Ruth Lindsay 
Nellie Beach 
Nelle Blodgett 




N CONSIDERING the operation of the Y. M. C. A. 
work in La Suze area, it should be remembered that 
like others of the Le Mans region, first, the troops 
served here were in transit; each organization stayed 
only a short time, rendering impossible the building up 
of any sort of permanent work. In many cases an outfit was no sooner 
located than it received orders to pull up stakes and go. Ask any 
soldier, officer or enlisted man, how much work moving involves, then 
remember that at moving time of troops, the Y. M. C. A. work is 
nearly doubled. Second, the irregular numbers of men and divisions 
often meant that one full Division overflowed into another area. 
Especially is this a feature of La Suze history, and with division 
headquarters operating in another area as was often the case, the Y. 
M. C. A. work was much more inconvenient. For instance, the Fifth 
Army Corps Headquarters stopped in the town of La Suze one week 
during the stay of the Seventy-seventh; units of the Fifty-second 
Pioneer Infantry, also attached to the Seventyseventh, occupied the 
northern part of the area for a short space of time ; portions of the 
Twenty-sixth Division overflowed from the Ecommoy area into the 
town of Roize, Spay, Fille, Faulletoute and Guecelord during March, 
and left ahead of the Seventy-seventh ; and casual units of the Eighty- 
ninth and Ninetieth Divisions touched the area at several points, as 
did other small units not remembered. 



In the Le Mans Area 183 

Prior to the signing of the Armistice there were no "Y" activities 
in the La Suze country, although the area was heavily occupied by 
troops. The first "Y" hut was located at La Suze late in November, 
in charge of Mr. Moore. This consisted of a small canteen and writ- 
ing room. When the Le Mans region was decided upon as the A. E. C, 
the La Suze area came into existence with La Suze, a town of 3000 
population as headquarters and center of activities. Soldiers of the 
Seventy-seventh Division filled every village in the surrounding coun- 
try, billeted in houses, barns, tents, sheds or any other place that could 
be called a billet. 

The more comprehensive work of the Association was begun early in 
January with F. J. Mcintosh of St. Louis, Mo., installed as secretary. 
Beginning with the one hut at La Suze, he soon had located "Y" 
quarters at thirteen different points, sometimes under the supervision 
of a secretary, sometimes with huts in charge of Army details. That 
these men converted impossible little holes-in-the-wall into fairly com- 
fortable cozy homes for the lonely soldier where he could come at all 
times and read, write and have fellowship with the other fellows and 
a friendly word and smile from an interested secretary, with occa- 
sionally a concert or some form of entertainment, is probably the worst 
that can be said of their efforts. 

By February three girls had come to work in the area. At the can- 
teens turned over to them they had soon, with bits of junk — curtains 
for the windows and some well placed decorations — given the place the 
touch of home, to which was added that cheery word and smile, no mat- 
ter how long the hours or how weary the body, that made the "Y" one 
bright spot in the dull, waiting life of the restless Yank. At places 
where there were no canteens, the Hill-Roberts-Geitz combination — 
the three "Y" girls — visited often, serving hot chocolate, cookies and 
fudge, and dispensing good cheer in general as only this trio could 
do. WJien not on hut duty these girls were always visiting out of the 
way places or trying to borrow girls for dances, etc. And interesting 
these dances were — hundreds of men to dance with some half-dozen 
girls. One dance at a famous old chateau near Courcelles for the 
Seventy-seventh Division men is worth mentioning; also, another at 
Etina in March for the Fifty-second Pioneer Infantry boys, where the 
music was furnished by a baby organ and two accordians, which 
afforded great amusement for the dancers and the lookers-on. By and 
by other girls were sent to the area and the work became proportion- 
ately more satisfactory to the men. 



184 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

One by one new huts were opened up or "created" and the family 
of secretaries grew. At Holding Camp, for instance, a gloomy, cor- 
rugated iron barracks with no floor was transferred into one of the 
most attractive and completely appointed huts in the area. The inside 
was painted, the floor graded, a stage with a roll curtain and re- 
movable wings built, allowing space for boxing bouts and other athletic 
shows, a systematically arranged canteen installed, a lounge and read- 
ing room furnished with wicker furniture, a comfortable kitchen, delco 
plant for lights and movies installed, piano, Victrola and stringed in- 
struments secured after much persistence — and the Aladdin lamp stunt 
was accomplished. The slogan of the hut was — "something doing every 
night "^ — and it was carried out even if the local talent had to be used; 
indeed, some of the aff"airs put on by the soldiers themselves were the 
best yet. A notable instance was the writing, staging, costuming, and 
acting of "Oh ! Oh I Mademoiselle," a regular musical comedy put 
on by the members of the 304 F. A. of the Seventy-seventh Division, 
and run for a week to packed houses. The play was written and 
directed by Sergeant Hamp of New York City and the music com- 
pared very favorably with many of the shows put on in the States. 

The canteen just described was typical in a more or less degree 
of others in the area, whose success was due to the untiring efforts of 
the secretaries and the "Y" girls, to the splendid spirit of the men 
themselves, and the hearty cooperation of the officers. The Seventy- 
seventh Division boys were a live bunch, and there was action all 
the time they were in the area. Being largely from the metropolis 
of Yank Land, they lived amidst bright lights and big doings, and 
no soft-soap stuff" would hold them a minute. Therefore, it put every 
secretary on his mettle to interest and entertain them. This was 
especially true of the religious work where it took a real man with a 
vital message and straight-forward delivery to keep his audience from 
walking out. This was also true with the entertainment end of the 
game. 

From the athletic standpoint the Seventy-seventh Division was 
probably one of the best organized outfits in the A. E. F. and large 
credit for this should go to their officers, who cooperated magnificently 
with the "Y" men to put this part of the program across. Notable 
track meets, mass play events, football and baseball games kept the 
men busy with something they liked to do, oftentimes this line of 
activity being substituted for drill. It all culminated in a great victory 
for the Seventy-seventh at the Le Mans Meet of March 27-29, in 
v/hich all Divisions in the A. E. C. participated. 



In the Le Mans Area 185 

The happiest hour of their stay was when the Seventy-seventh 
shouldered their packs and marched to the train that would carry 
them back to the "old girl with a lamp in her hand," whose image they 
so proudly wore on their shoulders, and April 20 saw the Seventy- 
seventh all gone from the La Suze area. 

After the Seventy-seventh several casual outfits, already mentioned, 
flowed through the La Suze area ; then for a time no other troops moved 
in and the "Y" got a breathing spell, the only men to serve being the 
permanent outfit — standbys and friends of long standing, coopera- 
tion and comradeship — such as the R. R. & C. outfits, Sub-Deport No. 
7, 110th Hospital Corps, 418 Telegraph Batallion, 370 Baking Com- 
pany, and units of the 21st Engineers, 208th, S92nd, 255th, and 
282nd Military Police Trains. 

Orders came out to close the area, the permanent outfits being 
attached to a neighboring area; the "Y" personnel left, many of the 
huts were closed and the contents salvaged, when suddenly the order 
was rescinded and the area enlarged to take in parts of the Ecommoy 
and Sable areas. The 88th Division moved in. This was the only 
entire Division which ever occupied the La Suze area and it caught the 
"Y" the least prepared to handle the situation of any time since the 
work was fairly launched. Divisional Secretary hurriedly started the 
necessary machinery rolling for receiving the incoming troops. Huts 
that were closed and salvaged were reopened where releases had not 
been given up ; new places were secured where possible ; rolling delco 
and picture machines arranged for ; and an entertainment center 
located at headquarters and other things done to make the "Y" useful 
to the soldier. The arrival of Bing, with the Eighty-eighth's corps 
of secretaries, put the business on the hum. The beautiful valley of 
the Sarthe was just bursting into the height of its spring-time glory, 
which fact had a tremendous psychological effect on the men and the 
officers of the Eighty-eighth Division. They declared with one accord 
that they had taken a new lease on life after the grouch rut naturally 
inflicted by the muddy camp of the unsightly Gondicourt country 
where they had been stuck for six months. 

Banners displaying the word "Welcome," with the clover leaf, the 
Division emblem, on either side were placed over the doors of each 
"Y" hut, practically every man was served with hot drinks and cookies 
and in some cases sandwiches on their arrival; a comprehensive enter- 
tainment, religious and athletic programme put on immediately with 



186 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

the arrival of each unit. Open air religious meetings were thronged, 
movies thrown on an improvised screen — side of building or tent — 
some open plot of ground, from a machine in a truck "juiced" by 
a delco along side of it; baseball games galore — with equipment 
brought along or rushed out to each unit as needed, and worlds of 
informal games started; rolling canteens with hot chocolate or lem- 
onade and cookies manned by honest-to-goodness, cheerful American 
girls visiting the boys billeted in isolated chateaus on picturesque 
plateaux where kings and nobles had frequented centuries ago — all com- 
bined to make the stay a happy one. The Eighty-eighth were a well- 
organized lot of real, red-blooded, appreciative Western American 
fellows. The "Y" personnel with the outfits, too, were all on the job, 
doing a good work, having and generating the true Eighty-eighth 
spirit. 

For a few days the area was practically empty and then by thousands 
came various and sundry units of the S. O. S. on their way home, and 
rested here for a week or ten days, more were now in the area at one 
time than at any period of its history. Every village was filled to the 
crowded limit and new places "opened," many little impromptu camps 
were hurriedly erected and troops stationed there. Every department 
was at its height of activity. The Entertainment Department sent 
out the S. O. S. call to Le Mans for help and they resjjonded with 
additional personnel, more portable movies, new variety of entertainers, 
equipment and everything available for use to interest the men. Sing- 
song leaders gathered great throngs of doughboys in the public squares 
of villages, and with a "Y" girl sitting on the footboard of a Ford 
pumping and playing the tiny but powerful lunged folding organ, 
another one with a winsome smile, sweet voice and graceful wand, 
led them in singing their favorite songs. Often these songs would 
precede a lecture or sermon by an accompanying "Y" man, and some- 
times they would furnish the evening's entertainment. Daily papers 
and at times magazines were carried to every part in the area every 
day, the record being broken one day when the two Fords delivered 
2800 Paris papers of current date to 30 points by 5:00 o'clock — 
giving the men the day's news while it was hot. More movie and 
entertainment groups were doing service at this time than at any 
previous period and more athletic events — principally the summer 
games — baseball and more equipment in use. 

With the departure of the S. O. S. units the work of the area came 
to a close and the order to salvage the area on June 12 and this 
time it was not rescinded; the last of the "Y" personnel leaving 
June 15. 



In the Le Mans Area 



187 




1. Officers' Dance at Hotel De Paris. 2. Fourth of July Felicitations to Mademoiselle 
Beaumont, Great Great Grand Daughter of General La Fayette. 3. Sisht Seeing: 

Party in Le Mans 



188 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

SECTION 4. 

COMMENDATORIES 

THE following excerpts from letters of commendation from Mil- 
itary authorities are here given in addition to those already quoted 
elsewhere in the summary as further demonstrating the satisfactory 
relationship that existed. 



From: Geo. S. Simonds, Brig. Gen. U. S. Army, Commanding A. E. C. 
To: Regional Director, Y. M. C. A., July 1, 1919. 

1. Upon the breaking up of these Headquarters and the closing 
of this office I desire to make of record my high appreciation of the 
devoted and efficient service you, as the present head of the Y. M. C. 
A. here, and your predecessors have given to the American Embar- 
kation Center. 

2. The work accomplished by your organization has been charac- 
terized by excellent organization, efficient operation and satisfactory 
results. This has been in a large measure due to the cordial coopera- 
tion of your organization with the military authorities and the earnest 
efforts of your personnel, and the highest credit is due to those who 
have participated. 

3. Will you please express to those who have assisted you the grati- 
tude and satisfaction the military authorities feel for the assistance 
they have rendered the American Embarkation Center in the accom- 
plishment of its work. Particularly to the women of your organization 
I would like you to deliver a message of appreciation and gratitude 
for what they have done. The long hours they have toiled, the earnest- 
ness of their efforts, together with the inspiration of their presence, has 
all been in keeping with the traditions of our American womanhood 
and is an exemplification of the spirit of the A. E. F. which has made 
its success a thing of which every American should be proud. 

4. To you personally and to your organization I extend the thanks 
of the military authorities and their congratulations upon the success 
of your undertakings. 

GEORGE S. SIMONDS, 
Brig. Gen. U. S. Army Commanding. 



American Embarkation Center, Welfare Office, June 20, 1919. 
My Dear Mr. Ferris: 

It is with a great deal of personal regret that I leave the American 
Embarkation Center and more especially on account of the termination 
of our official relations. 



In the Le Mans Area 189 

During my term of duty as Chief Welfare Officer at the American 
Embarkation Center we have all noted the efficiency and the business- 
like management of the Y. M. C A., under your administration, caus- 
ing the most favorable comment on the part of the Commanding Gen- 
eral and the officers and enlisted men of the United States Army, who 
have been so faithfully served by the Y. M. C. A. 

Both the United States Army and the Y. M. C. A. have been most 
fortunate in having had you as the Regional Director of the Y. M. C. 
A. during the critical period in which 500,000 American troops have 
passed through this Embarkation Center en route to the United States. 

Trusting that Fate may be so kind as o permit us to serve together 
again sometime in the near future, I am. 

Very cordially yours, 

(Signed) F. B. HENNESSY, 
Col. F. A., U. S. A., Chief Welfare Officer. 

Mr. O. L. Ferris, Regional Director, Y. M. C. A., Le Mans. 



From: Chief Welfare Officer, A. E. C. 
To: Regional Director, Y. M. C. A. 
Subject: Maud McDowell Koyle. 

Mrs. Kyle has supervised many complex problems regarding the 
care, distribution and performance of duty of more than 450 Y. M. 
C. A. women workers throughout the American Embarkation Center 
in such an efficient manner as to cause many complimentary remarks 
by visiting officials of high rank and it is believed that a generous 
portion of the success attained by the Y. M. C. A. was due directly 
to the inspiration and influence of Mrs. Koyle. 



From: Chief Welfare Officer, A. E. C. 
To: Regional Director, Y. M. C. A. 
Subject: Mrs. Tait. 

Many thousands of weary soldiers who have reached Le Mans 
during the "wee small hours" have been entertained and comforted 
by the personnel on duty at the "Central 'Y' Hut." 

Mrs. Tait deserves special credit for the inauguration and mainten- 
ance of the sight-seeing trips in Le Mans and vicinity, which have 
been of great educational value to many of our soldiers. 

Mrs. Tait is enshrined in the hearts of many American soldiers, who 
have benefited by the most efficient administration of the "Central 'Y' 
Hut." 



190 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

From: Chief Welfare Officer, A. E. C. 
To: Regional Director, Y. M. C. A. 
Subject: Mrs. Warden. 

On behalf of the Commanding General and all the officers and the 
enlisted men of the American Embarkation Center, it is desired to 
espress their appreciation of the unusually efficient administration of 
the "Y. D. Hut" since Mrs. Warden has been in charge. 

The whole atmosphere has changed since Mrs. Warden took charge 
with the result that many thousands of soldiers have considered it as 
a "little corner of home" and the place she has won in the hearts of 
the enlisted men will survive long after other memories of the A. E. F. 
are forgotten. 

It is requested that an official copy of this letter be forwarded to 
your Paris Headquarters for transmission to Mrs. Warden. 



June 15, 1919. 
From: Chief Welfare Officer, A. E. C. 
To: Regional Director, Y. M. C. A. 
Subject: Miss Honore McNamara. 

Your special attention is invited to the unusually efficient and faith- 
ful performance of duty of Miss Honore McNamara, your Y. M. C. A. 
representative who had charge of the two most difficult and important 
welfare propositions with which the undersigned is acquainted, viz, 
the S. O. S. Athletic Championship on May 2, 3, and 4 ; and the A. 
E. C. County Fair on May 29, 30, 31, June 1. 

Miss McNamara was directly responsible for the great success of 
these two important Y. M. C. A. Welfare propositions and is entitled 
to the highest commendation for the manner in which she organized and 
maintained the Welfare organization which resulted in the happiness 
and contentment of many thousands of members of the United States 
Army. 



June 21, 1919. 
From: Chief Welfare Officer, A. E. C. 
To: Regional Director, Y. M. C. A. 
Subject: Miss Blanche Grant. 

It is desired to express the appreciation of the Commanding Gen- 
eral and all the officers and enlisted men of the American Embarka- 
tion Center of the efforts of Miss Grant, who has been so successful 
in the artistic decoration of the various Y. M. C. A. huts scattered 
throughout the American Embarkation Center. 



In the Le Mans Area 191 

As a result of the efforts of Miss Grant the Y. M. C. A. huts in 
the American Embarkation Center have proved more attractive than 
any others of the A. E. F. 



From: Chief Welfare Officer, A. E. C. 
To: Young Men's Christian Association. 

During nearly 18 months' service in the A. E. F. it has been the 
good fortune of the undersigned to have been thrown in close contact 
with your organization in different parts of France, and I can cheer- 
fully say that the services rendered by your organization throughout 
the S. O. S. Championship were distinguished by most efficient admin- 
istration, which resulted in the greatest happiness and contentment of 
many thousands of soldiers who enjoyed your hospitality during the 
period. May 2, 3 and 4, 1919. 



From: Chief Welfare Officer, A. E. C. 
To : Young Men's Christian Association. 

In the name of the Commanding General it is desired to express the 
appreciation of the members of the United States Army, who were so 
handsomely entertained by the Young Mbn's Christian Association 
during the A. E. C. County Fair and Race Meet, held at La Ferte- 
Bernard, May 29, and at. Le Mans, May 30, 31 and June 1. 

The installation of your Welfare activities, upon the dates in ques- 
tion, have been pronounced by visiting officers as the most complete they 
have ever seen in France. 

Due to such intelligent cooperation by the Young Men's Christian 
Association the morale of our Army has been maintained to a high 
degree during its presence in the American Embarkation Center, while 
preparing for embarkation to the United States. 



May 11, 1919. 
From: Commanding General Fifty-fourth Artillery Brigade. 
To: Miss Betty Simonton and Miss Sally Simonton. 

It has been a real pleasure to have had you with us, and you have 
added enormously to the contentment of officers and men by your cheer- 
ful and buoyant disposition and by your manifest desire to assist any- 
where that your services would be of the most benefit. 



From: Chief of Staff, A. E. C. 

To: A. G. Bookwalter, Regional Director, Y. M. C. A. 

1. Upon severing your official connections with these Headquarters 



192 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

I desire to express to you my appreciation of the highly creditable and 
efficient character of your work and the work of your organization in 
this matter. 

2. The character of the problems involved in preparing the large 
number of troops which have passed through this Center for return to 
their hom.es and civil pursuits has been such that your organization has 
had opportunity to fulfill to the highest degree the functions for which 
it was intended. 

3. The cordial cooperation you have always given the military au- 
thorities, the earnest and faithful work performed, and the efficient 
results produced are worthy of commendation and emulation. It is my 
desire that you know of our appreciation of the work of the Y. M. C. 
A., and I am pleased to make it of record at these Headquarters. 



May 17, 1919 
From: Chief of Staff, Thirty-sixth Division. 
To: Commanding General, A. E. C. 

Welfare work in the Thirty-sixth Division during the stay of that 
organization in the Embarkation Area, I wish to thank you in behalf of 
the Commanding General and of the members of the Thirty-sixth 
Division for the excellent work accomplished. With those who have 
had the opportunity to observe the effects of this welfare work, there 
can be no question as to its benefits. 

The entertainments furnished have been of excellent character, the 
campaign having in view the continuance of athletic work while in this 
area and the many other little things done along this line have resulted 
in keeping thousands of the men of this Division entertained and has 
had excellent beneficial results on them all around. 

The entire Division leaves this area with the kindliest feelings for 
the efforts made in its behalf. 



From: Charles Keller, Col., 317 Inf. 
To: Mr. E. C. Carter, Y. M. C. A. 
Subject: Warren J. McLaughlin. 

By his untiring energy, coordination and cheerful business-like man- 
ner, he has so firmly established within the circle of respect, admiration 
and friendship of all officers and men of this regiment, that he has 
clearly become identified with the spirit and life of the regiment, to 
such an extent that he is now accompanying us on our return to the 
States. 



I.N TiiK I.E Mans Ahka 193 

From: Lieutenant Marcum. 
To: Y. M. C. A. 

Subject: Chas. E. Lenon. 

It would be impossible to arrive at a full appreciation of services 
Mr. Lenon, Y. M. C. A. secretary, has rendered, both to the officers 
and men, while stationed at Spur Camp. He was always first to greet 
new arrivals with open hospitality ; he literally gave his time and 
attention, whether to the arranging of public entertainments, or to 
the giving of kindl}^ counsel; he exhausted the recourse of the organiza- 
tion he represents for the comfort and advantages of the men, whom 
he seemed to consider his personal charges. During his stay, the popu- 
lation of the camp increased from a few hundred to several thousarid, 
necessitating the opening, under his direction, of two other huts and 
under this increased work, he was indefatigable, sacrificing his per- 
sonal convenience and comfort to the service of the men. 

It can be truthfully said that no man has done more to convince our 
men of the altruism and sincerity of purpose of the Y. M. C. A. than 
has he and every officer and every man in this camp will feel a^ 
personal loss at his transfer. 



From: Commanding Officer, 132 Machine Gun Battalion. 
To: C. C. Stewart, Y. M. C. A. 

You have labored faithfully and untiringly at j^our work, striving to 
satisfy every whim and desire of the members of this organization, 
and I can say, at this time as I look back over your work, that you 
have succeeded eminently. 

I wish, at this time, to make a written expression for the members of 
the 132nd Machine Gun Battalion and myself of your service with us. 
It is with heartfelt appreciation that I thank you for your work and I 
can conscientiously say that you have done more to maintain and sus- 
tain the high morale of this Battalion than anyone else. We thank you, 
one and all, for your personal work and we wish you Godspeed on 
your return to America. 



May 9, 1919. 
From: Geo. P. Hawes, Colonel, U. S. A. 
To: Mr. M. W. Coates, Y. M. C. A. 

This command leaves Chateau du Loir, after a stay in the area of 
over a month, tomorrow, May 10, and before leaving I desire to ex- 
press to you and Mr. Dickerson my appreciation, as well as that of 



194 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

the individuals of the command, for your many kindnesses and cour- 
tesies throughout our stay here. You have both worked conscientiously 
and hard and have done much to make pleasant a very trying period 
in the history of this command. 



From: Wm. J. Buck, Major, M. C, U. S. A., Commanding. 
To: Y. M. C. A. 

This is to certify that W. A. Billings, Y. M. C. A., has been at this 
hospital since March 19, and has rendered valuable service to patients 
and enlisted men of this hospital. His efforts have been untiring and 
his genuine interest and devotion has won the admiration and hearts 
of those men. 



From: Commandant d'armees de la Place de la Fleche. 
To: Monsieur S. Bruce Wright, Y. M. C. A. 

Let me tell you how we admired the wonderful organization of the 
Y. M. C. A. The taste with which the hall was kept up. You are leav- 
ing ; you will soon be very far away, but believe me, we shall never for- 
get the Y. M. C. A., and its splendid directors ; and if some day the 
hazards of time should bring you here again, be assured that you 
shall always find friends here. 

I am proud of the honor of being able to express to you my gratitude 
and to assure you that the troops of La Fleche will never forget the 
stay of the American soldiers in La Fleche. 



From: W. Paul Mobley, Divisional Secretary, Eighty-first Division. 
To: Regional Director, Y. M. C. A., Le Mans. 

We feel that nothing has been left undone by you and your able 
workers to make our stay here just as pleasant as it could possibly be. 

I am sure I express the sentiment of the Y. M. C. A. men and women 
as we have met here. 





FAMILIAR FIGURES 
1. Big Joe, Transportation Chief, and the Little Grant of Forwarding Camp Arsruingr 
Over Disposition of a Camionette. 2. The Ice Cream Kid at Le Mans Plant. 3. Music 
Hath Charms. 4. French Widow and Orphans. 5. American Machinery, but French 

Operators 



196 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

Roster of the Y. M. C. A. Personnel 
in the Le Mans Area 

WOMEN PERSONNEL 

ADAMS, LUELLA M Cresco, Pa. 

ALLEN, MARIE ^8 Beach Street, East Orange, N. J. 

ALLEN, MARTHA Arlington, Iowa 

AMOS, MRS. JESSIE 817 Sheridan Road, Chicago, 111. 

ANDERSON, HELEN....__ _....Colorado Springs, Colo. 

ARNOLD, BETTY_ _ Wartrace, Tenn. 

ARNOLD, DOROTHY TREAT 465 State Street, Albany, N; Y. 

ARNOLD, S. ELIZABETH 107 Ardmore Avenue, Ardmore, Pa. 

ARTHUR, MARY ARGALL .385 Jefferson Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

BACON, AGNES LATIMER 3316 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, Md. 

BAIRD, MARGARET N 213 Scotland Road, South Orange, N. J. 

BAKER, FANIDA ...Royston, Ga. 

BAKER, RACHEL C .'.Bola, Pa. 

BAKEWELL, EUPHEMIA Pittsburgh, Pa. 

BEACH, NELLIE ...Ridgwav, Pa. 

BEAKES, KATHERINE 133 W. Main Street, Middletown,'N. Y. 

BEAN, MARGARET 330 Bryn Mawr Road, Cvnwyd, Pa. 

BECKER, EDITH 260 Richmond Avenue, Buffalo" N. Y. 

BEMENT, NORMA MAIE..... 309 Stewart Avenue, Ithaca, N. Y. 

BERRY, DOROTHY Emmons, Apts., Huntington, W. Va. 

BEYER, ELIZABETH 6103 Kenwood Avenue, ^Chicago, III. 

BIDGOOD, LETITIA 810 Argyle Road, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

BLACK, IDA McL ..303 Grace Street, Wilmington, N. C. 

BLACK, VISTA 333 Grand Building, Atlanta, Ga. 

BLACKNEY, FRANCES Angola, N. Y. 

BLANTON, ANNA, WARD BELMONT Nashville, Tenn. 

BLODGETT, RACHAEL NELL. Orleans, Nebr. 

BOLWAY, HELEN M 173 Fourth Street, Oswego, N. Y. 

BOOTH, MYRTLE THEADORA 34 W. 38th Street, New York City 

BOUVE, GRACE ELIZABETH 80 Harvard Avenue, Brookline, Mass. 

BOWMAN, TEVAN J Spencer, W. Va. 

BRADLEY, HELEN ALDIS 316 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass. 

BRADSHAW, EUGENIA .......(Care Chicago Title & Trust Co., Chicago, 111. 

BRADY, GERTRUDE ELIZABETH 158 Mammoth Road, LowelCMass. 

BRIDGERS, ANNE PRESTON -. 1306 Hillsboro, Raleigh, N. C. 

BRITTINGHAM, ADA S 133 E. Lincoln Avenue, Mt. Vernon, N. Y. 

BROOKS, RUTH LOUISE 1617 Dills Street, Burlington, Iowa 

BROWN, MABEL D 608 Spence Street, Marquette, Mich. 

BROWN, MARY 504 Peach Tree Street, Atlanta, Ga. 

BROWN, PAULINE 17Bronson Place, Toledo, Ohio 

BROWNE, ANNE Vaughan, N. C. 

BUCK, EDITH S 59 Branford, Jamaica, N. Y. 

BUCK, SARA E 343 Plover Street, Sturns Point. Wis. 

BUCKLEY, KATHERINE R..... .....13 West 98th Street, New York City 

BURD, MRS. PERCILLA 3130 Troost Avenue, Kansas Citv, Mo. 

BUTLER, Mary 935 South 14th Street, St. Joseph, Mo. 

BUTTS, M. LUCILE 730 Union Street, Brunswick, Ga. 

CADY, BEATRICE 310 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, Conn. 

CAHOON, ELIZABETH 1333 Wisconsin Stieet, Racine, Wis. 

CAMPBELL, MARJORIE 511 Euclid Avenue, Syracuse N. Y. 

CARNEY, MRS. BERTHA L Geneva House, Geneva, N. Y 

CARROLL, ALICE 93 Grand Street, Newburgh, N. Y. 



In the Le Mans Area 1^7 

nATjRT^TT HOPF 32 Wakefield Street, Lewiston, Maine 

S^S^^rS? MRS EDNA B 51 Butler Street, Lawrence, Mass. 

n^?Sy Fn?rH K O 4 Mission Apts., Cheyenne, Wy. 

CLARK, EDITH K. U ^^^^^^ 3^^,^^ Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Si^^SS'T. VnmSF' "C ^03 Lake Avenue, Racine, Wis. 

rnA???'HELEN MAR '364 Upper Mountain Ave., Upper Mountain, N.J. 

rorSWELT^ VmcfNIA ■ '. - 31 Clinton Ave., Jamaica, N^ Y. 

PoSsTOCk' ALICE M T6 Humboldt Avenue, Providence R. I. 

Pnn? ^OrWeLIA 40T Vista Avenue, Portland Oregon 

rnnf ^sJbELLE B 34^ Spring Street, Portland, Maine 

nnnv t!vf -1001 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Md. 

rnnpi.'^ fringes" H 5746 Howe Street, Pittsburgh Pa. 

^^^^blSif'S^^^Z^J.SS Boylston Street, C^st^t Htll, ^^. 

rnn?H ^'U^S^ H :::Z4:6 SouthB^oa^way, Nyack, N. Y. 

g^5^iS^^A^cE:i::=^^ -.f^^rk^rit'STf;,?.^: 

ES^virELiz^B^™"^' ::;:::303wiitnrs\S^^^ 

gSRifs^'sARAH^THEADORA 106 E. ^^-^^^^^f^^glf^^^^^^^^ 

S^?^"RS^ZZZZZZZZ:^30^-X^d;ews -X^enue, N. ^ W 

S?f AND^Sy''^^'''^ ;:::i4 Potter- Place, Fairp.rt, N. Y. 

KSwTT^'TRFfmE 4000 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 

SS?5^ Jl^fSiJ^ SZZZZI 4336 Delmar Bl^d S. ^i^^^. 

SlgS^T'^AS?'''^ ^ :Z060 Honvwood- A.^nue, Chicago lU. 

niVF?? ET?G]^NIA 503 W. Church Street, Elmira, N. ^. 

dSoN fLA ZZ 335 Augusta Street, Greenville, S. C. 

SSS^t¥; EUNICeZ:Z...6.8 East Twenty.j.th^S1jee^ I^njoldy^ 

S^SsSee' EST™Er\^™ ZZ.^ ctsS'u^ttrS Wi^^^^^^^^ 

SSfRMIDRED grace' ...351 S. Rebecca Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Sc: ?T OR^NCF ^^"^ 134 South Elm Street, Centraha, 111. 

5t / TOT ADF?I Aldnie Hotel, Philadelphia Pa. 

1SS?T^?N^--E::=::::=::Z3 Reservoir Street,^a^d^, Ma.. 

IlOS^JvI^^ Z:3923-Ha;r^onZtre^:^aiLs C^ly^.^. 

?mVr SON CAROLYN 31 Arlington Street, Rochester, N "Y. 

EnSSIsS,' MARgSRiTEZZ: .,^659 f «-! Avenu^ Deti.^, Micl.. 

^^?^k^^^N- P::::::::==-100 AsWand Avenue, Bv^alo^N^. 

???NS ^BbJe H ''^''™'' ■ ZZ^F^ee St;ee^,clden, M^e 

FVaS's' META :Zl7i5" Tenth Avenue, Huntington, W. Va. 

FWFN HEIEN 302 N. Jefferson Street, Saginaw, Mich. 

EWmG GrTcE :::::: 54 west 48th street. New York City 

FrULKVERtSTHERINE 31 Talbot Street, loweU, Mass. 

FAY, ALICE OBER 115 Olympia Place Seattle, Wash. 

— SCUS EFFIE 200 Washington Avenue, Vandergritt, Pa. 

.ANSBURG, ELEANOR 3501 The Pa«-«l Sf ^l^^ity ^o. 



FI 



198 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

FOWLER, RENA Farmington, Maine 

FRANCIES, MAY Western Penitentiary, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

FRIERSON, MRS. ANNA H .' Athens, Ala. 

FRICK, ETHELWYNNE 100 South Church Street, Westchester, Pa. 

FRITSCH, SUSAN 5475 Cabanne Avenue, St. Louis, Mo. 

FULLERTON, PAULINE 303 West 74th Street, New York City 

FULTON, JULIA Pleasant Valley, Wheeling W. Va. 

GAGE, KATHERINE L .....29 Wedonah Street, Boston, Mass. 

GARDEN, GERTRUDE 441 Main Street, Wheeling, W. Va. 

GARDNER, HARRIET B 71 Beverly Road, Upper Montclair, N. J. 

GARDNER, JANE Clinton, N. J. 

GARRETT, MARY A West Holm, Tutford Yak, England 

GARVEY, ANNABEL A 515 Buchanan Street, Topeka, Kansas 

GEITZ, ELSIE K 263 Rich Avenue, Mt. Vernon, N. Y. 

GERNON, AUDREY- 195 Washington Street, Norwich, Conn. 

GILMOUR, MRS. GERTRUDE....Palisade Ave., Hastings-on-Hudson, N. Y. 

GILSON, MRS. SARA SUMNER Highland Street, Holliston, Mass. 

GITTINGS, ISABELLE 1342 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 

GLEASON, MARY E 145 South Street, Northampton, Mass. 

GOETCHIUS, MARY 405 Third Avenue, Rome, Ga. 

GOODWIN, MARY F Ashland, Va. 

GORMLY, ELEANOR Sewickley, Pa. 

GRAHAM, GLADYS _ Evanston, 111. 

GRANT, BLANCHE C 22 Prospect Street, Taunton, Mass. 

GREEN, HELEN S 105 Grape Street, Morrison, 111. 

GREEN, IDA Dalton, Mass. 

GREENE, AMY 21 West Street, Worcester, Mass. 

GREENLAW, MRS. KATE O.. Eutaw, Ala. 

GRINNELL, MRS. KATHERINE 32 Maple Street, New Bedford, Mass. 

GROSS, ESTELLE 620 South George Street, York, Pa. 

HAMMETT, ELIZABETH..... 919 Heberton Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

HAMMOND, JOSEPHINE 427 Center Avenue, Butler, Pa. 

HANNA, MARY E... 4934 N. 12th Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 

HANSON, HARRIETTE 316 Cumberland Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

HARING, MRS. AUGUSTA 19 West 31st Street, New York City 

HART, IMOGENE 5547 Dorchester Avenue, Chicago, 111. 

HATCH, ESTHER Bryn Mawr Avenue, Cynwyd, Pa. 

HATCH, LAURA 36 Bedford Terrace, Northampton, Mass. 

HAYES, PAULINE 28 Einhorn Road, Worcester, Mass. 

HAYS, FRANCES B JeflFerson City, Mo. 

HAYES, MARION 28 Einhorn Road, Worcester, Mass. 

HAYES, SARA E ...Brielle, N. J. 

HAZELHURST, ELIZABETH 1021 Greenwood Blvd., Evanston, 111. 

HAZELHURST, HELEN K 1021 Greenwood Blvd., Evanston, 111. 

HEATH, LURA IDA R. F. D. No. 5, Monroe, N. C. 

HEPFORD, MINERVA 220 Pine Street, Harrisburg, Pa. 

HERRING, FRANCES Natural Bridge, Va. 

HIGGINS, RACHEL 41 Mt. Vernon Street, Melrose, Mass. 

HILL, MARTHA 1012 N. 12th Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 

HILLER, DOROTHY 2921 Washington Street, San Francisco, Cal. 

HILP, FREDDIE 405 Elm Street, Reno, Nev. 

HINE, ELLEN LOUISE State and Abbey Streets, Girard, Ohio 

HOBBS, MRS. GEORGIA E Y. M. C. A., Denver, Colo. 

HOLCOMB, MRS. CATHERINE 453 Cedar Street, Manistee, Miich. 

HOLMES, KATHERINE R 24 High Street, Orange, N. J. 

HOLMES, MARY LOUISE 24 High Street, Orange, N. J. 

HOPKINS, CATHERINE 28 West 12th Street, New York City 

HOPKINS, CHARLOTTE Groton, Mass. 

HORTON, AMY 33 West 74th Street, New York City 

HOWE, FLORA Miles City, Mont. 

HOWE, RUBY 409 South Union Street, Burlington, Vt. 



In the Le Mans Area J 99 

HOWARD, BESS ...Chester, Pa. 

HOWELL, BERTHA Catonsville, Md. 

HUBBELL, MARGUERITE Elgin, 111. 

HUNN, MRS. J. M 119 Blair Street, Ithaca, N. Y. 

INGELSE, PATRE Boulder, Colo. 

IRVINE, MARY AGNES 016 Elysian Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 

JACKSON, EDITH M 5835 Circle Ave., Chicago, 111. 

JAMES, ADA G.. 330 Columbia Ave., Palmerton, Pa. 

JAMESON, HALLIE '. 1424 N. Fifth Street, Waco, Texas 

JASPER, NELL Fulton, Mo. 

JENKINS, MARY B Wellesley, Mass. 

JOHNSON, CAROLINE C 87 High Street, Yonkers, N. Y. 

JOHNSON, FLORENCE MARY 475 E. Seventh Street, Fulton, N. Y. 

JOHNSON, SUSANNE Z Weston, Mass. 

JOHNSON, MRS. WAYNE Sheffield, Mass. 

JOHNSTON, ESTHER 2328 Broadway, Logansport, Ind. 

JONES, KATHERINE 1212 S. 14th St., Springfield, 111. 

JONES, MAY F Asheville, N. C. 

JONES, WINIFRED N Suisun, Cal. 

KALEY, MADGE 151 Montgomery Street, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 

KEEFE, LOUISE 4625 "n. Racine Ave., Chicago, 111. 

KENNEDY, MRS. CORA C 222Memorial Ave., Grove City, Pa. 

KETCHUM, ELEANOR West Roxbury, Boston, Mass. 

KEYSER, ANNE F 1121 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Md. 

KING, CORA LEE 5257 Westminster Place, St. Louis, Mo. 

KING, SARA JOYCE 311 Second Ave., Rome, Ga. 

KINSEY, MARTHA Wyoming, Ohio 

KIRK, GERTRUDE H Placerville, Cal. 

KNOWLES, CYNTHIA Corinna, Maine 

KOUNTZ, FLORIDA S 516 Wallace Ave., Wilkensburg, Pa. 

KOYLE, MRS. MAUD McDOWELL 145 West 12th Street, New York City 

KREINHEDER, CHARLOTTE 249 Norwood Avenue, Buffalo, N. Y. 

KUNZ, KITTY Delafield, Wis. 

KUNZ, JANET Delafield, Wis. 

LAW, MARGARET 5449 Greene Street, Germantown, Pa. 

LAW, RUTH 816 N. Weber Street, Colorado Springs. Colo. 

LAWTON, WILHELMINA Cortland, Geneva, N. Y. 

LEACH, VIRGINIA 81 Sterling Place, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

LEE, ALINE S Westbrook, Conn. 

LEE, ANNA E Highmore, So. Dak. 

LEE, ANNIE. 5015 Church Street, Monroe, N. C. 

LEONARD, ELEANOR 1729 N. Sixth Street, Harrisburg, Pa. 

LESLEY, VICTORIA 1411 North 16th Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 

LEWIS, DORA Movlan, Pa. 

LEWIS, MRS. ELISE L Large Ave., Hillsdale, N. J. 

LINCOLN, MARGARET R 9 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, Mass. 

LIND, MABEL 1723 W. Teoga Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 

LINDSAY, MARTHA 56 Eaton Place, East Orange, N. J. 

LINDSAY, RUTH 347 Prospect Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. 

LINEHAN, JANET 681 Gholson Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 

LOGAN, ALICE Real Estate Trust Co., Philadelphia, Pa. 

LOOMIS, MRS. EFFIE P ; 320 W. Grace Street, Richmond, Va. 

LOVELL, MARGARET Pen-y-Bryn, Scranton, Pa. 

LUCAS, HELEN 615 Carleton Ave., "Portland, Oreeon 

MACY, MRS. ALICE 20 Seventh Street, New Bedford, Mass. 

MacDONALD, LUCY (No record address) 

MacEACHRON, HARRIET 422 Vermont Street, Waterloo, Iowa 

Mackenzie, Harriet Ypsiianti, Mich. 

MacLAREN, jane 120 E. Arrellage Street, Santa Barbara, Cal. 

MacLeod, GWENN 412 W. 20th Street, New York City 

MacNAMARA, HONORE 64 St. James Place, Brooklyn, N. Y. 



200 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

McCAGUE, ANNE D - Pine Road, Sewickly, Pa. 

McCain, LEODA 804 S. Kenilworth Ave., Oak Park, 111. 

McClelland, ruth M 656 N. Pralrle Street, Galesburg, 111. 

McCOLLUM, ANNA R. F. D. No. 3, Durand, Mich. 

McCORMACK, EDITH 4522 Westminster Place, St. Louis, Mo. 

McDAVID, THERESA -113 Toy Street, Greenville, S. C. 

McDonald, SARAH 7700 Penn. Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 

McGLINCH, ANNE A ...- Minto, N. Dak. 

McINTYRE, LOUISE Newman, 111. 

MANN, WINIFRED..... 8444 120th Street, Richmond Hill, N. Y. 

MARTIN, KATHERINE A 308 Stuyvesant Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

MARTIN, RUTH 5728 Baum Blvd., Pittsburgh, Pa. 

MARVIN, DORIS.. (No record address) 

MARVIN, GERTRUDE. 359 Wyoming Street, Kingston, Pa. 

MARSHALL, ELIZABETH 546 Madison Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

MASSEY, CLARA ESTHER 236 S. Massey Street, Watertown, N. Y. 

MASSEY, SALLIE LOU ' 1523 22nd Ave., Meridian, Miss. 

MASSIE, MAYO Lawrenceville, Va. 

MERRITT, ELEANOR 2024 Orange Street, Bakersfield, Colo. 

MILLER, ANNA 311 Maple Street, Manistie, Mich. 

MILLER, LUIDA K Stanford, Ky. 

MILLER, MRS. MARTHA Stonington, Conn. 

MOLTER, ELLA S Excelsior, Minn. 

MOORE, MARION SARAH Avondale, Pa. 

MORRIS, CLARA 200 Lexington Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 

xMORRIS, MARY E 241 West Eighth Ave., Columbus, Ohio 

MORRIS, MAUD E Alva, Okla. 

MORSE, KATHERINE "Grey Rocks," Amherst, Mass. 

MOSS, EDNA PAULINE Mainville, Ohio 

MOSS, OLIVE M 1730 Williams Street, Denver, Colo. 

MYER, ANNIE Carthage, Tenn. 

MYERS, ELIZABETH PAUL 129 East Tenth Street, New York City 

NELSON, LELIA 63 Scott Street, Monroe, Mich. 

NELSON, STELLA E 220 West Olive Street, Stillwater, Minn. 

NEWELL, FRANCES Wolfe Hall, Denver, Colo. 

NUNN, MRS. LAURA J .3 Bird Street, Dorchester, Boston, Mass. 

NUTTER, HARRIET 12 Cornell Ave., Yonkers, N. Y. 

O'BRIEN, MARGARET 301 S. Fifth Street, Grand Haven, Mich. 

OHMERT, HAZEL 6423 Planada Ave., Los Angeles, Cal. 

OLDS, MAVE C 55 Broadway, Tacoma, Wash. 

OSBORN, MARY 309 Clark Street, Clarksburg, W. Va. 

OTIS, MABEL 10 West 11th Street, New York City 

PARKER, ESTHER Winchester, Mass. 

PARK, MISS KATHERINE Warren, N. H. 

PARRY, ANNA M ...24 Estrella Ave., Oakland, Cal. 

PATRICK, RUTH 31T S. Grove Ave., Oak Park, 111. 

PATTERSON, EILEEN 412 West 20th Street, New York City 

PAXTON, MARY Roanoke, Va. 

PEABODY, MAY E .....Salem, N. H. 

PEDRICK, HELEN Cynwyd, Pa. 

PERKINS, FRANCES J Seventh Ave., Laurel, Miss. 

PIKE, LUCILE PERLEY.. 164 Kent Street, Brooklins, Mass. 

PLUMB, ALMA ....Fairview, Kan. 

PLUME, EMILIE A 706 West End Ave., New York City 

POLLOCK, CHRISTINE ..210 South Eighth Street, Fargo, N. D. 

POPE, ANNA ELIZABETH 806 Sixth Street, Minneapolis, Minn. 

POTTER, DOROTHY LOUISE 229 Vine Street, Tyler, Texas 

POTTS, MARGARET R 8 Congress Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

PRATT, C. ELMA 333 Central Park West, New York City 

PRICE, KATHERINE G 124 Main Street, Westerly, R. I. 

PRYOR, ESTELLE B 801 E. Court Street, Flint, Mich; 



In the Le Mans Area 201 

PUGH, RACHAEL 503 N. Ninth Street, Independence, Kan. 

QUAYLE, MRS. THOS. R 713 South St. John's Ave., Highland Park, 111. 

RANDALL, IVY MAY 1864 Mar Vista Ave., Pasadena, Cal. 

REEVE, ALICE L 39 Oakland Road, Brookline, Mass. 

REID, MARGARET 521 South Story Street, Boone, Iowa 

RICE,' ETHEL F 3619 James Street, Eastwood, E. Syracuse, N. Y. 

RICHARDS, BELL 5806 Howe Street, Pittsburgli, Pa. 

RICHARDS, IRMA 143 61st Ave., East Duluth, Minn. 

RICHMOND, MARJORIE 74 East Main Street, Fredonia, N. Y. 

RITCHIE, LILLIAN Lake-of-the-Isles, Minneapolis, Minn. 

ROBERTS, ANNIE M. M 435 Madison Ave., New York City 

ROBERTS, EDITH 8 Tennis Court, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

ROBERTS, ESSIE- Fairburn, La. 

ROBERTSON, FERNANDE -36 Perry Street, New York City 

ROBINSON, HELEN RAYE ...1033 N. 2nd Street, Rockford, 111. 

ROBINSON, MARGARET 335 Morris Ave., Grand Rapids, Mich. 

RODGERS, CLAUDINE 626 S. Gore Ave., Webster Groves, Mo. 

ROGERS, MILDRED PRESCOTT 14 Brimmer Street, Boston, Mass. 

ROPES, PHOEBE. 252 Locust Street, Danvers, Mass. 

ROSE, MARGUERITE T Tuckhoe, N. Y. 

ROUNDS, ONA M 96 South Tenth Street, San Jose, Cal. 

ROWSON, JANE M 464 15th Ave., Patterson, N. J. 

RUSSELL, JOSEPHINE 3662 Pine Grove Ave., Chicago, 111. 

SAUNDERS, RUBY 200 E. Deming Street, Roswell, N. Mex. 

SAVARESE, LOUISE E 73 Charlton Street, New York City 

SCHIMMELFENG, MARION F ...210 Fourth Street, Warren, Pa. 

SCOTT, MARION STURGES 1214 Astor Street, Chicago, 111. 

SCRIVEN, MRS. MiARJORIE W 64 Charlesgate, East Boston, Mass. 

SCUDDER, CONSTANCE 4063 Washington Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 

SEARS, MISS ANNA 330 W. 47th Street, New York City 

SEELEY, MISS M 304 Clairmont Ave., Detroit, Mich. 

SELDEN, DAPHNE....: - - Deep River, Conn. 

SEVERENCE, MILDRED 150 Jewett Ave., Buflfalo, N. Y. 

SHARPE, MARY B Chambersburg, Pa. 

SHELDON, ELEANOR - Free Hall, Normal, 111. 

SHERIDAN, MABEL E 43 Asbury Street, Rochester, N. Y. 

SHERMAN, GEM -- Marquette, Mich. 

SHIELDS, EFFIE L ...4326 Saline Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 

SHYNE, ELEANOR 16 Folow Block, Norwood, Mass. 

SHIPPERD, MARJORIE 1212 Jefferson Street, Duluth, Minn. 

SHUTTLEWORTH, ESTHER Springfield, N. Y. 

SHUMAN, LENA. 2801 Benvenue Ave., Berkeley, Cal. 

SIDNEY, MRS. VIDA 135 Waverly Place, New York City 

SIMONTON, ELIZABETH Spencer Arms, New York City 

SIMONTON, SALLY Spencer Arms, New York City 

SINCLAIR, HELEN Lysander, N. Y. 

SINGER, JANE R 5463 Penn, Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 

SINGLETON, MRS. EMMA G 530 Clinton Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

SMALL, MARY BELLE Main Street, Washington, N. C. 

SMALL, RUTH 483 Vista Ave., Portland, Oregon 

SMITH, GLADYS.... 160 Park Ave., Brockport, N. Y. 

SMITH, SARA 96 North 18th Street, East Orange, N. J. 

SNYDER, ELIZABETH Ardmore, Pa. 

SNYDER, HELEN 11 Bentley Ave., Jersey City, N. J. 

SPEAR, HELEN MAHLON 6 William Street, Newark, N. J. 

SPENCER, JEANETTE ...2133 Jackson Blvd., Chicago, 111. 

SPERRY, JULIA 1001 Dewey Ave., Rochester, N. Y. 

SPICER, MRS. ALICE San Diego, Cal. 

ST. CLAIR, ELSIE 435 Gilbert St., Grand Rapids, Mich. 

STERLING, MRS. MARY H La Grange, Ga. 

STEWART, MRS. BESSIE Elizabeth City, N. C. 

STEWART, MARGARET ANNA Hotel Miami, Miami, Okla. 



202 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

STEWART, REBECCA 152 Dickson Ave., Ben Avon, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

STOUP, CLARA E 638 Fifth Street, Oakmont, Pa, 

STOWERS, F. MIRIAM 121 Narcissus Street, West Palm Beach, Fla. 

SUAREZ, ERNESTINE Tuskegee Institute, Ala. 

TAIT, MRS. JOHN L 1914 Summit Street, Columbus, Ohio 

TERRETT, MilLDRED Clinton, N. Y. 

TERRILL, KATHERINE..... _ Grand Junction, Iowa 

THOMPSON, GRACE 2111 De Lancey Place, Philadelphia, Pa. 

TODD, LISA 824 West End Ave., New York City 

TOMPKINS, MARJORIE Nyack, N. Y. 

TORRISON, MARGARET 1745 Chicago Ave., Evanston, 111. 

TOLER, MRS. MAINER HARDIN 590 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta, Ga. 

TOM, LUCIA MAE Runge, Texas 

TRAYLOR, MRS. RUTH L Hotel Traylor, AUentown, Pa. 

TULLER, ELIZABETH 42 West North Ave., Atlanta, Ga. 

TURNER, LILLIAN A 51 Lawshe Street, Atlanta, Ga. 

TURNER, NATALIE S 1201 Sunset Ave., Asbury Park, N. J. 

TYSON, PATRICIA 25 Lincoln Street, Glen Ridge, N. J. 

UHL, MARGARET 215 South Franklin Street, Wilkes Barre, Pa. 

ULLIAN, REBA 152 Franklin Street, New York City 

VALENTINE, GERTRUDE (Deceased). ...80 Chestnut Street, Albany, N. Y. 

VALK, ELLA 137 East 66th Street, New York City 

WALDO, BARBARA Bridgeport, Conn. 

WADDEN, MARY Madison, S. D. 

WALKER, LILLIAN GERTRUDE Woodbury, Conn. 

WALKER, GRACE 61 Valley Road, Montclair, N. J. 

WALKER, MAUD WINSTON 1500 Bluff, Wichita Falls, Texas 

WARDEN, MRS. SARA Beaver Road, Sewickley, Pa. 

WARD, EDNA M 2050 East 83rd Street, Cleveland, Ohio 

WATTERS, LUCILE E 603 West Seventh Street, Rome, Ga. 

WEAVER, MYRTLE Bradford, Ohio 

WEEKS, MARY Babylon, L. I., N. Y. 

WELDON, MINNIE 201 California Street, Newton, Mass. 

WELLES, KATHERINE 27 Washington Square, North, New York City 

WESTON, ISABELLE B 22 Summer Street, Bangor, Maine 

WHEELER, PAULINE LANSING 2012 Broadway, San Francisco, Cal. 

WHILEY, OLIVE PEARL 129 E. Wheeling Street, Lancaster, Ohio 

WHITE, BERNICE 1429 Belmont Street, Washington, D. C. 

WILLARD, MARY F 1506 Fargo Ave., Chicago, 111. 

WILLIAMS, OLIVE 54 Irving Place, Buffalo, N. Y. 

WILLIS, REBA 256 East Seventh Street, Colton, Colo. 

WILLS, ELIZABETH M Gilroy, Cal. 

WILCOX, LOUISE 193 Inwood Ave., Upper Montclair," N. J. 

WOOD, ELIZABETH A Claremont, Cal. 

WOOD, GLADYS 195 High Street, Greenfield, Mass. 

WOOD, MARGARET 162 Cleveland Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

WOODMAN, HELEN 185 Bailey Street, Lawrence, Mass. 

WOODS, DOROTHY L 1806 Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, Colo. 

WOOSTER, MISS RUTH Seymour, Conn. 

WRIGHT, ETHEL Dexter Place, Cincinnati, Ohio 

YOUNG, LILLY MAE Sharon, Wis. 



In the Le Mans Area 203 



MEN PERSONNEL 



ACHESON, R. D Eagle Grove, Iowa 

ACKER, WALTER Masonic House, Fort Worth, Texas 

ADAMS, G. B 60 Mercer Street, Jersey City, N. J. 

AGNEW, F. C Plattsburg, N. Y. 

AKIN, C. ARTHUR 501 North Avenue 65, Los Angeles, Cal. 

ALLEN, A. S Y. M. C. A., Seattle, Wash. 

ALDER, E. C 183 Steuben Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

ALLEN, WM. J 17 N. Irvington Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. 

ANDERSON, J. R (No record address) 

ANDERSON, J. S 3210 Arthington Street, Chicago, 111. 

ANDERSON, O Hammond, Ind. 

ARMSTRONG, ORLAND K 1914 N. Jefferson Street, Springfield, Mo. 

ARMSTEAD, G. B New Haven, Conn. 

ASHBROOK, J. P Lumberton, N. J. 

ASHCRAFT, CYRUS W 501 Wood Ave., Florence, Ala. 

ALEXANDER, FRED B Crawfordsville, Ind. 

ALLEN, LUTHER E Aurora, 111. 

ATKINSON, S. D Orange, N. J. 

ATKINSON, W. D Grove City, Ohio 

A VERITT, DONALD (No record address) 

BABCOCK, R. W 600 N. Pine Ave., Chicago, 111. 

RAGGETT, GEO. S Liverpool, N. Y. 

BAILEY, J. W 32 Grace Street, Montgomery, Ala. 

BAILEY, ORVILLE S R. R. No. 6, Morrowvilk, Kan. 

BAKER, O. E 3025 Leverett Ave., Alton, IlL 

BAKER, H : 10 Erie Street, Oak Park. 111. 

BAKER, THOS Spring Valley, N. Y. 

BAKER, W. J 77 Elmont Ave., Port Chester, N. Y. 

BALCOM, H. A 516 West 184th Street, New York City 

BALDWIN, ARTHUR C Montclair, N. J. 

BALES, W. E McMinnville, Ore. 

BALL, JAMES W Logansport, Ind. 

RALMOND, F. J Greensburg, Pa. 

BANKS, E. T 410 Bank Street, Davton, Ohio 

BARBER, HACKETT Owensboro, Kv. 

BARNES, GEO. J The Lenox, 131 Spruce Street, Philadelnhia. Pa. 

BARNES, JOHN 2104 Walnut Street, Cedar Falls, Iowa 

BARTON, L. S 817 South Barton Ave., Tulsa, Okla. 

BARDEN, H. C Attleboro, Mass. 

BARNES, ALEX J 2035 James Ave., Minneapolis, Minn. 

BASHAM, R. A Akron, N. Y. 

BASSETT, JOHN Rush Citv, Minn. 

BATSON. ROLAND 10 Adams Street, Medford, Mass. 

BATES, ROSS 1800 Stevens Ave., Minneapolis. Minn. 

BAUMBACH. CHAS. C Bryant, S. Dak. 

BAYNTUN, G. R 1114 W. Park Street, Butte, Mont. 

BE AL, FP ED N WalviUe, Wash. 

BECKWITH, FLOYD 1 3355 W. Monroe Street, Chicaa-o, 111. 

BET>DEN. F. M Plandome, N. Y. 

BELL, HUGH H 140 Bolmas Ave., San Ansf>lmo. Cal. 

BE/VVEN, A. W 52 Burr Street, Rochester. N. Y. 

BERINER, PAUL... (No record address) 

BERTHIAUME, S. M.. 7223 Taft Street, Seattle, Wash. 

BTCKET,, J. F 313 S. Washington Street. Tavlorville, 111. 

T^Tr>DT,E. HOWARD Philadelphia, Pa. 

BILLINS, W. A 232 Dearborn Street, Buffalo, N. Y. 

BINFOPD, DR. B. S 704 W. North Street, Greenfield, Ind. 

BING, H. M 31 Van Deman Ave., Delaware, Ohio 

BINGHAM, GUY M Vine Street, Libson, Ohio 

BIXLER, ANDREW L 536 Hanover Street, Carlisle, Pa. 



204 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

BLACK, JOHN CALVIN.._ R. R. No. 3, Parnassus, Pa. 

BLACKMER, J. H 638 Piatt Street, Toledo, Ohio 

BLAIR, H. W Cartage, Mo. 

BLOOM, IRVING 1143 Tiffany Street, Bronx, New York City 

BLUE, A. B Phillipsburg, Kan. 

BOGARDUS, HARRY Mansfield, Pa. 

BOOKWALTER, A. G 564 Evanswood Place, Cincinnati, Ohio 

BOWEN, A. J Hibernian Bldg., Los Angeles, Cal. 

BOWEN, O. L El Paso, Texas 

BOWLES, W. F ..1300 Logan Street, Grand Rapids, Mich. 

BOWMAN, H. N Canton, Ohio 

BRADBURY, JOHN W 6036 Drexel Ave., Chicago, 111. 

BRADLEY, HERRICK 501T Queen Ave., S., Minneapolis, Minn. 

BRANDS, RUSLING S Columbia, N. J. 

BRAMAN, W. J Monroe, N. Y. 

BRAMMER, OTTO C 183 Ditmass Ave., Long Island City, N. Y. 

BRANDON, J. C 434 North Main Street, Butler, Pa. 

BRIDGES, ELLERY N.... 57 Alliance Ave., Rochester, N. Y. 

BRIGGS, E. E 73 Tracv Street, Buflfalo, N. Y. 

BRILLHART, D. O ...1189 Arch Street, Berkeley, Cal. 

BRINDLE, CHAS. D 95 West First Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 

BROTHERS, S. C 304 Leroy Ave., Buffalo, N. Y. 

BROUGH, R. NORMAN 53 Westminster Road, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

BROUGHER, JAMES W.. 1331 West Fourth Street, Los Angeles, Cal. 

BROWN, C. T 835 Fletcher Street, Chicago, 111. 

BROWN, F. E 1059 37th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 

BROWN, HENRY T Lubec, Maine 

BROWN, JOHN K 13436 Superior Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 

BROWN, L. L Owasco, N. Y. 

BROA¥N, ARCHIE 55 White Street, Red Bank, N. J. 

BRUGGERS, J. H R. R. No. 4, Cawker City, Kan. 

BULLOCK, M. C 51 River Street, Salamanca, N. Y. 

BULLOCK, M. W .....30 Sarsfield Street, Roxburv, Mass. 

BURCAW, EDWARD E 383 East Elm Street, Kent, Ohio 

BURD, H. P :..... 113 North Seventh Street, Bethlehem, Pa. 

BURKHART, FRANK C 3108 Marcy Street, Omaha, Neb. 

BURRESS, D. T .....Carroll, Neb. 

BURRILL, WM. L 307 Eighth Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

BUSH, M. S Portsmouth, Ohio 

BUTLER, DAVID M ....309 Houston Street, Augusta, Ga. 

BUTZ, P. F 301 North Jefferson Street, Newcastle, Pa. 

CADLE, J. W 36 Alexandra, Apts., Indianapolis, Ind. 

CAIRNS. JAMES G 5 Oakhill Road, Cliftondale, Mass. 

CALDWELL, H. E 338 West Biddle Street, Baltimore, Md. 

CALKINS, LLOYD R Olivet, Kansas 

CAMPBELL, JOHN NEIL.. 3104 Lyndale Street, Chicago, 111. 

C \MPBELL, ROBERT Millerton, N. Y. 

CANTWELL, C. A 331 34th Street, Oakland, Cal. 

CARNEGIE, W. P 939 Leland Avenue, Chicaon, m. 

CA.RRINGTON, J. J Huntington,^ Tenn. 

CARLYLE, A. F 603 Minnesota Street, St. Paul, Minn. 

CARMAN, J. EARNEST. 17 Twelfth Ave., Columbus, Ohio 

C BROTHERS, E. S .Concordia, Texas 

CARTY, CHAS Bozeman, Mont. 

CASSIDY, M. A Ada, Okla. 

CA.STANIEN, G. W Dodge City, Kan. 

CAPPS, J. A Bessemer City, N. C. 

GATES, OFFERT Lvnchberg, Tenn. 

CHAMBERS, J. E 114 Kirwin Street, Salena, Kan. 

CHASE, H. A 1107 North 18th Street, Boise, Idaho 

CHRISTIAN, J. A Oxford, Miss. 

CLARK, A. J 643 Gracy Street, Utica, N. Y. 



In the Le Mans Area 205 

CLARK, DR. CHAS Boston, Mass. 

CLARK, JAMES 1223 St. John's Place, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

COCKRELL, EWING 2083 Market Street, Warrensburg, Mo. 

COATES, M. W - 142 Harkness Ave., Pasadena, Cal. 

COCHRAN, FRED Flats, N. C. 

COIT, C. W 1019 Park Ave., Rochester, N. Y. 

COLLIER, T. F..... 38 Keene Street, Providence, R. I. 

CONE, J. H 2400 Grandview Ave., Cincmnati, Ohio 

CONKLIN, H. W 84 Rider Ave., Patchogue, N. Y. 

COOPER, CHAS. F 32 Tyler Place, Athol, Mass. 

COPE, A. B 1021 Walnut Street, Emporia, Kan. 

CORNEILSON, J. M - Pendleton, Oregon 

COREY, MADISON N. Y. A. Club, Pelham, N. Y. 

COSAND, CHAS. E 412 North A. Street, Oskaloosa, Iowa 

COSSENAS, GEO 308 West 93rd Street, New York City 

COULTER, JOHN L 94 Beverley Ave., Morgantown, W. Va. 

COURTWRIGHT, WM. L Larkspur, Cal. 

COUSINS, WAVERLEY H West Main Street, Danville, Va. 

COUSTER, ED (No record address) 

COX, W. M - - Fairfield, 111. 

COXHEAD, ERNEST Hearst Bldg., San Francisco, Cal. 

CRENSHAW, JOHN W - Atlanta, Ga. 

CRONK, W. C - - ...Beaumont, Cal. 

CROW, CHAS. W - 2457 Lawn Ave., Kansas City, Mo. 

CROWDER, EDWARD 1404 Favette Ave., Springfield, 111. 

CULBERTSON, SASHA... : .....Imperial Street, Oif City, Pa. 

CUMMINGS, JOHN WILSON 406 Cooper Ave., Colorado Springs, Colo. 

CURRY, A. B. JR 541 Lexington Ave., New York City 

CURTISS, O. M 18 Curtis Place, Staten Island, New York City 

CUSHMAN, L. N 45 Merrimack Street, Lowell, Mass. 

DALLING, JAMES R Everett, Pa. 

DALTON, CRATE 1926 Ethel Street, Waco, Texas 

DANA, MALCOLM Charles City, Iowa 

DANGERFIELD, HARRY 4737 Bayard Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

DANIEL, CLEM B Tate, Tenn. 

DARLING, D. P 4801 College Ave., Indianapohs, Ind. 

DARSIE, CHAS .....7365 Sprague Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

DAUGHERTY, F. L 1039 E. Vernon Ave., Los Angsles, Cal. 

DAVIDSON, EMMETT La Monte, Mo. 

DAY, FREDERICK 65 Madison Ave., New York City 

DAYMONT, LESTER N Chestnut Street, New York Mills, N. Y. 

DEAN, J. S Fulton, Ky. 

DEER, H. E 350 Nold Ave., Wooster, Ohio 

DENNIS, J. A 1610 East State Street, Rockford, 111. 

DICKINSON, JOHN H Pocatello, Idaho 

DICKSON, HENRY D 1324 Grand Ave., Dayton, Ohio 

DILLON, PAUL S Mound City, Mo. 

DIETS, THOS. B.. 508 Roher Street, Greensburg, Pa. 

DIXON, H. E 109 South St. Louis Blvd., South Bend, Ind. 

DODD, JESSE J Montclair, N. J. 

DONALDSON, C. A Columbia, S. C. 

DOWNER, S. W Downer, N. J. 

DRAGOO, ROY R Sauk Rapids, Minn. 

DRUMMOND, CHESTER A 29 Central Street, Sommersville, Mass. 

DUDDLES, RALPH' E Okabena, Minn. 

DUNN, CLARK 1406 Linden Ave., Nashville, Tenn. 

DUNN, HENRY 104 Perry Street, Kinston, N. C. 

DUNN, J. E Irving, Texas 

DURANT, F. F 1367 Edwards Street, Cleveland, Ohio 

Dye, CLARKSON 2595 union street, San Francisco, Cal. 

EARL, W. L 926 Delaware Ave., Toledo, Ohio 

EASTMAN, ENOCH S R. R. No. 7, Manchester, N. H. 



206 History of the Y. JNI. C. A. 

EASTMAN, H. A Colrain, Mass. 

EBY, SAMUEL L R. R. No. 1, Columbus Grove, Ohio 

ECKELS, A. R 140 Lockwood Ave., Yonkers, N. Y. 

EDMONDS, NEWTON, A Hattiesburg, Miss. 

EGGLESTON, J. F Franklin, Tenn. 

ELLIOTT, JESSE (No record address) 

ELIOT, W. A 1011 Thurman Street, Portland, Oregon 

ELSEY, C. C 803 McNatt Ave., Aurora, Mo. 

EMSLIE, GEO 56 North Ave., New Rochelle, N. Y. 

ESMY, FERNANDE Paris, France 

EVANS, P. L 1518 Paru Street, Alameda, Cal. 

EVERETT, GEO. W 122 Kealing Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. 

FABER, LEO FLOYD Ashland, Ohio 

FAGALY, ROY 2218 Iowa Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 

FAIRCHILD, DALLAS 53 Kingston Street, Port Jervis, N. Y. 

FARIS, CALVIN 423 North Seventh Street, Mitchell, Ind. 

FARR, G. W Onekama, Mich. 

FERRIS. O. L 117 Paloma Ave., Long Beach, Cal. 

FINCH, ARTHUR J 245 South Gilpin Street, Denver, Colo. 

FISH, C. B 248 Norwood Ave., Buffalo, N. Y. 

FISH, JAS. O Little Hocking, Ohio 

FISHER, HARRY G. (Deceased) Washington, D. C. 

FISHER, H. T Bernardston, Mass. 

FISME'R, A. W 99 Beach Street, Bloomfield, N. J. 

FLETCHER, W. 3809 19th Ave., Seattle, Wash. 

FOX, EDW. L New Haven, Conn. 

FRALEY, C. F San Bernardino, Cal. 

FRANCIS, L. M (No record address) 

FRANCISCO, T. H Martinsville, Va. 

ERASER, WM 1371 Commonwealth Ave., AUston, Mass. 

FREEMAN, W. L 625 Liberty Street, Corpus Christi, Texas 

FREESE, E. C Tulsa, Cal. 

FRENCH, NEIL S 871 Turk Street, San Francisco, Cal. 

FRIES, S. W Chestertown, Ind. 

FRIEND, THOMAS Dumbarton, Va. 

FRY, AMBROSE T Beach City, Ohio 

FULLER, GEO. M 269 Hamilton Street, Albany, N. Y. 

FUNDERBURK, RAY Wake Forest, N. C. 

FUNK, ERWIN 612 South Sixth Street, Rogers, Ark. 

GALE, A 1009 Michigan Ave., Albion, Mich. 

GARDINER, J. L 831 W. Colfax Street, South Bend, Ind. 

GARNETT, J. 3400 Leet Street, Greenville, Texas 

GARLOUGH, FRED W 32 College Street, Hillsdale, Mich. 

GAY, ALVA _ Ashland, Nebr. 

GEORGE, CLARENCE W 320 East 15th Street, Lincoln, Nebr. 

GERNON, AUDREY Norwich, Conn. 

GERSUCH, J. E .(No record address) 

GIBBS, GEO. E 864 Madison Street, Santa Clara, Cal. 

GIBBS, S. 115 N. Shelby Street, Greenville, Miss. 

GIBSON, HARRY W 1914 Geyer Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 

GIDEON, HENRY 278 Highland' Street, Dedham, Mass. 

GILHAM, L. S 105 St. John Street, Schuykill Haven, Pa. 

GILLESPIE, J. H. B 6647 Bedford Ave., Omaha, Nebr. 

GILLESPIE, WM. B Morgan Hill, Cal. 

GILBERT. L. A 846 Lincoln Ave., St. Paul, Minn. 

GILKEY, H. L ' Oakland, Cal. 

GILMER, A. G 925 Highland Ave., Bristol, Wis. 

GILMORE, AUBREY C Vinyard Haven, Mass. 

GLEASON. C. C East Greenwich, R. I. 

GLEESMAN, W. F 28 North Yinest, Hinsdale, 111. 

GODFREY, A. L 631 Benton Ave., Albia, Iowa 

GOOD, ROBERT Cawker City, Kan. 



In the Le Mans Area 207 

GOODRICH, A. S Saratoga Springs, N. Y. 

GORDON, W. C 1038 E. Marquette Road, Chicago, 111. 

GRACE, E. L 704) Oak Street, Chattanooga, Tenn. 

GRANGER, A. H Correll, Minn. 

GREASON, CHAS 238 E. Main Street, Middletown, N. Y. 

GREELEY, GEO. E Hudson, Mass. 

GREEN, H. C 812 Monroe Street, Topeka, Kan. 

GREEN, HOMER H Cartersville, Ga. 

GREENE, CHAS. H 191 Bird Ave., BuflFalo, N. Y. 

GREER, H 720 Seventh Street, Buffalo, N. Y. 

GRIFFIN, A. V 270 Main Street, Port Washington, N. Y. 

GRIMES, W. L Spartansburg, S. C. 

GRIZELLE, A. RAYMOND Springfield Center, N. Y. 

GUGEL, CHAS. F 1346 Summit Street, Columbus, Ohio 

GUTHRIE, W. C 146 South Street, Newburg, N. Y. 

GUY, CHAS 91 Clove Road, New Rochelle, N. Y. 

GWYNN, L. T Springfield Center, Otsego, N. Y. 

HAIG, CLIFFORD W Buena Vista, Fla. 

HALDEMAN, O. C 3800 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo. 

HALFACRE, HARRY Ten Ecyk Hotel, Albany, N. Y. 

HALL, HARRY H Calipatria, Cal. 

HALL, ROBERT D Columbiana, Ohio 

HAMILTON, CLARENCE C 41 Mt. Vernon Street, Boston, Mass. 

HAMPTON, GEO. W Boulder, Colo. 

HANLEY, J. FRANK 747 Lemeke Annex, Indianapolis, Ind. 

HARBRIDGE, GEO. F 101 Cunning Street, Irvington, N. J. 

HARGIS, RICHARD. 852 East 56th Street, Seattle, Wash. 

HARGROVE, W. F Malta Band, Mo. 

HARRISON, FRANK W 2940 Cottage Grove Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 

HART, JAMES S 200 Irwin Ave., Bellevue, Pa. 

HARTLEY, R. A 801 Broadway, Quincy, 111. 

HARTMAN, NAYLOR : (No record address) 

HATHAWAY, L. E Hubert, Minn. 

HAY, B. K Mt. Jackson, Va. 

HAY, E. S 3059 Jackson Bldg., Chicago, 111. 

HARVUOT, S. E 3348 Bonaparte Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 

HAUCK, C. E Westville, N. J. 

HAYS, FRANK R 21 Smedley Street, Oil City, Pa. 

HAYES, L. G 353 Third Ave., Phoenix, Ariz. 

HAYNES, COE 357 Waldo Ave., Pasadena,^ Cal. 

HAZENBURG, A 466 Thomas Street, Grand Rapids, Mich. 

HECOX, E. F Arnett, Ohio 

HEICHER, M. K. W 910 Main Street, Cedar Falls, Iowa 

HELDERMAN, O. C (No record address) 

HENDERSON, A. S 40 West 47th Street, New York City 

HENDERSON, F. E Revnoldsburg, Ohio 

HENCH, CHAS. R 117 North 36th Street, Camden, N. J. 

HILLS, HORACE T 415 Ellsworth Ave., New Haven, Conn. 

HILLHOUSE, A. J Berkeley, Cal. 

HINTON, ROBERT T Jackson Street, Georgetown, Ky. 

HICKS, ROY J ...Monon, Ind. 

HTGGINS, W. D ^Chestnut Ridge Road, Mt. Kisco, N. Y. 

HILTON, DR. ARTHUR 6373 Stanton Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 

HOLLIDAY, M. R Knoxville, Tenn. 

HOLMES, A. L Flat Rock, N. C. 

HONEYWELL, I. E 707 North Kenilworth Ave., Oak Park, 111. 

HOOD, R . M Stites, M^ho 

HOPKINS, GEO. W 415 Jones Street, San Francisco, Cal. 

HOPKINS. W. B Fruitland, N. Y. 

HORN, HERSCHEL 310 South Fifth Street, Lamar Colo. 

HORNBERGER, CARL S 1522 Wooster Road, Barberton, Ohio 

HOUCK, J. D. F Marshall, Texas 



208 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

HOUSTON, HARRY 162 Willard Street, New Haven, Conn. 

HOWARD, J. K Patterson, Cal. 

HOWELL, W. W 64 Hill Street, Morristown, N. J. 

HOUSER, GEO. S (No record address) 

HOWARD, L. R Whitewater, Wis. 

HOWARD, GEO. F 91 Ashland Street, Melrose Highland, Mass. 

HUBBARD, ARTHUR DeVERE South Bend, Ind. 

HUDSON, HAROLD Estherville, Iowa 

HUNNEMAN, JOS. A 8 Filson Place, Cincinnati, Ohio 

HUTCHINS, HARRY 1951 East 66th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 

HYDE, H. W (No record address) 

ICE, W. E -. Versailles, Ohio 

INBUSH, H. S — - 459 Juneau Place, Milwaukee, Wis. 

IRELAND, F. B 208 Jefferson Street, Washburn, III. 

IRVING, LOUIS M Malone, N. Y. 

JACK, E. B..... 130 West 44th Street, New York City 

JACKSON, WAYNE 1613 Rock Street, Little Rock, Ark. 

JACKSON, W. B New Buffalo, Perry County, Pa. 

JEFFERSON, THOMAS H... 336 Farrington Ave., St. Paul, Minn. 

JENNINGS, A. K _ Cleveland, N. Y. 

JENNINGS, H. B 1014 Clay Street, Lynchburg, Va. 

JOHNS, G. A - -1328 East 125th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 

JONES, H. A 115 East Grand Blvd., Detroit, Mich. 

JONES, ARTHUR C - --23 North Chapel Street, Elgin, 111. 

JONES, JOHN EDWARD .Cambria, Wis. 

JONES, J. S - (No record address) 

JONES, M. V - .(No record address) 

JOHNSON, A. G — 32 Cummings Ave., Wallaston, Mass. 

JOHNSON, B. V 2981 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit, Mich. 

JOHNSON, S. Z - - - Weston, Mass. 

JOHNSON, WAYNE - (No record address) 

JOHNSTON, GLEN W 201 California Ave., Avalon, Pa. 

JORDAN, A. E 503 North Campbell Street, Beliot, Kan. 

JUDD, E. W Hilton, N. Y. 

KARLSON, ERIC - - Berkeley, Cal. 

KEITH. GEO. H .....2136 Grande Boulevard, Spokane, Wash. 

KELSEY, O. W Great Valley, N. Y. 

KEINSTON, W. R - (No record address) 

KELLEY, D. E Chattanooga, Tenn. 

KELLOGG, 6. G -41 West 16th Street, New York City 

KELLEY, C. W Chattanooga, Tenn. 

KELLY, THOMAS. 149 Manhattan Ave., New York City 

KENYON, GEO. C 1522 Kemble Street, Utica, N. Y. 

KILBY KARL E .....Room 229 Beacon Bldg., Wichita, Kan. 

KINKAID, R. C €44 West Seventh Street, Marysville, Ohio 

KING, E. A. ; T3 South 15th Street. San Jose, Cal. 

KING, E. L 1096 President Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

KING, L. U Eau Noire, Wis. 

KLINE. A. D 36 Rugby Road, Schenectady, N. Y. 

KNIGHT, ERNEST ' .....Bayers, Colo. 

KNIGHT, E. M Stirling City, Cal. 

KNIGHT. W. W .;.... 5419 Union Ave., Birminarham, Ala. 

KOCH, CHAS. L.....: 717 Fifth Ave., Peoria, 111. 

KONKLE, NOLAN H 28 Tumlin Street. Atlanta, Ga. 

KRAKOVER, JOSEPH 2901 Center Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 

KULL, ROY Shelbyville, 111. 

LA FOLLETTE, WM Koyoee, N. Y. 

LANGWORTHY, H. W Madison Ave., Spring Valley, N. Y. 

LA ROSE, L. F.. 386 Webster Street, Auburndale, Mrss. 

LAMONT, WM. G - Russell, Kan. 

LATSHAW, DAVID 53 Summer Street, Forest Hills, N. Y. 



In the Le Mans Area 209 

LATTA, ALFRED S 1926 Grove Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

LATTIMORE, WM 502 Fourth Ave., Lewiston, Idaho 

LAWRENCE, THOS. N Hertford, N. C. 

LEACH, RAYMOND H Box No. 13T2, Honolulu, Hawaii 

LEE, CHAS. L Dorset, Vt 

LEE, JAS. A 1528 Gaty Ave., E. St. Louis, 111. 

LELAND, S. R 901 Ogden Ave., New York City 

LEONARD, E. P 503 Wyatt Street, Chattanooga, Tenn. 

LENON, CHAS. E 1242 E. Harrison Street, Portland, Oregon 

LIKES, P. H Pittsville, Wis. 

LINT, PERRY 222 "K" Street, Dayton, Ohio 

LITCHESON, CHAS. J 109 Lexington Ave., Syracuse, N. Y. 

LOOMIS, W. T 2426 Maple Street, Omaha, Nebr. 

LOVEJOY, J. E 507 Grand Street, Troy, N. Y. 

LLOYD, WINSLOW R 54 Eden Street, Chelsea, Mass. 

LONG, A. L Danville, Ind. 

LUCE, E. H (No record address) 

LUTES, FRANK E 1024 Chapin Ave., Beloit, Wis. 

LYBOLT, A. E 913 Commerce Trust Bldg., Kansas City, Mo. 

LYCAN, A. H Paris, 111. 

LYON, W. H. B Plattsburgh, N. Y. 

MacCULLAGH, R. H Custer, S. Dak. 

MACKEY, WM 1057 Madison Ave., Columbus, Ohio 

McAFEE, C. B 10 Chalmos Place, Chicago, 111. 

McBANE, J. H 217 South Euclid Ave., Oak Park, 111. 

McBRIDE, B. R 917 East Fifth Street, Columbus, Ind. 

McBRIDE, W. S 771 Everett Street, Portland, Oregon 

McCARDELL, E. S Braddock Heights, Md. 

McCLEARY, B 7 Canandaigna Street, Palmyra, N. Y. 

McCLESKEY, HERBERT L Normal College, Hattisburg, Miss. 

McCLURE, MARCUS P Hollywood Street, Los Angeles, Cal. 

McCREARY, R. W 168 Bank Street, Fall River, Mass. 

McCROSKEY, WARD C Sterling, Kan. 

McFEELEY, P. T Bogota, N. J. 

McGILL, EDGAR J .Montserrat Road, Beverley, Mass. 

McGINNIS, J. W 909 West 36th Place, Los Angeles, Cal. 

McGregor, JAMES 1014 Ludlow Ave., Utica, N. Y. 

McGREW, C. W 401 South Ash Street, North Platte, Nebr. 

Mclaughlin, W. J 1031 W. Elm street, Lima, Ohio 

McGAFFIN, ALEX 11415 Mayfield Road, Cleveland, Ohio 

McINTOSH, FRED J 1326 Clara Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 

McLAURIN, D. G 146 Center Street, Canton, Miss. 

McROY, CHAS. D P. O. Box 747, Oakland, Cal. 

MADDOX, H. 1301 Western Ave., Topeka, Kan. 

MAGARGAL, J. C 1230 Chew Street, AUentown, Pa. 

MALOTT, A. L 1708 Vinewood Ave., Detroit, Mich. 

MONROE, R. M Packford, 111. 

MANSON, W. C 82 Huntington Ave., Boston, Mass. 

MARESCH, LAWRENCE 1723 Porter Street. Philadelphia, Pa. 

MARKWARD, G. H 1821 Monroe Street, Washington, D. C. 

MARLETT, JOHN S 1126 Illinois Street, Indianapolis, Ind. 

MARRIOTT, A. E 67 16th Street, Wheelins, W. Va. 

MARSHALL, E. L St. Charles, 111. 

MARSHALL, B. E Mobile, Ala. 

MARSOLF, C. S Leon, Iowa 

MARTIN, C. R 720 Main Street, Worcester, Mass. 

MARTIN. IRA T 1116 Second Ave., Oakland, Cal. 

MATHIESON, ROBERT Irvington, N. J. 

MATTIS, W. L 62 Reasor Ave., Dayton, Ohio 

MAURICE, R. L 2522 Prospect Ave., Kansas City, Mo. 

McCOY, CHRISTOPHER C Evansville, Ind. 

MERRITT, A. R East Aurora, N. Y. 



210 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

MERRITT, WM. T Easley, S. C. 

MELROSE, WALTER 304 Blanche Ave., Tropico, Cal. 

METCALF, W. H 2425 Spencer Street, Omaha, Nebr. 

MILAM, DAN W 213 North Church Street, Charlotte, N. C. 

MILES, A. J 70 Main Street, Binghamton, N. Y. 

MILLER, F Main Street, Sea Cliif, N. Y. 

MILLS, HUGH M Gore, Ga. 

MINEAR, A. C 660 West 35th Place, T^s Angeles, Cal. 

MITCHNER, BERT E Hutchinson, Kan. 

MIX. W. E Linden Hotel, El Paso, Texas 

MOORE, JOHN T 105 East Ash Street, Normal, 111. 

MOORE, W. C 417 East 57th Street, Portland, Oreo-on 

MOOK. H. B 258 West 23rd Street, New York City 

MOBLEY, W. PAUL 2711 Accomae Street, St. Louis, Mo. 

MORGAN, CHAS. W 85 Sagamore Ave., Chelsea, M^ss. 

MOR GAN, W. Y Hutchinson, Kan. 

MORRILL, A. T 76 Main Street, Skowheban, Maine 

MORRIS, H. S - Oakland. Cal. 

MORRIS, J. B Scott City, Kan. 

MORRISON, BENJ 1517 Eleventh Ave., Greeley, Colo. 

MOUNGER, W. H Charleston, Miss. 

MOYE, JOHN C 221 Franklin Street, Bloomfield, N. J. 

MURCH, CHAS. H .Canton, N. Y. 

MURLAND, C. S West Hempstead, Long Island, N. Y. 

MURRAY, MILO C Michigan City, Ind. 

MLTRRELL, B. N 638 Anthony Ave., St. Paul, Minn. 

MYTTON, LEONARD V. C 335 Clifton Ave.. Newark, N. J. 

NAYLOR, HARTMAN 325 Amsterdam Ave., New York City 

NEFF, I. E 5819 Bl^H^^ton- Ave., Chicago, 111. 

NELLUMS, M. E Ward-Belmont, Nashville, Tenn. 

NELSON, F. C (No record address) 

NELSON, F. H 332 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 

NELSON, RUSSELL McConnelsburg, Pa. 

NELSON, W. C. V 3536 Adams Ave., San Diego, Cal. 

NEWBEGIN, E. J Redlands, Cal. 

NEWBERRY, PERCY Carmel-by-the-Sea, Cal. 

NEWHALL, STEPHEN K 697 JeflFerson Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

NICHOLS, LEROY C 300 College Street, Winfield, Kan. 

NICHOLS, ROSS J Barry, 111. 

NOLIN, WM. W Pullman, Wash. 

NORTH, EARL R , Michigan City, Ind. 

NYQUIST, A. G 567 Park Ave., St. Paul, Minn. 

OBERHOLZER, EDWARD J 118 Montague Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

OCAIN, LEWIS Grand Rapids, Mich. 

O'GRADY, WM 17 Chapman Place, Irvington, N. J. 

OLIVER, BENJ. H 1725 Wilson Ave., Chicago, 111. 

OREM, HERBERT H 1218 Welsh Street, Houston, Texas. 

OSGOOD, FREDERICK S 5446 Ferdinand Street, Chicago, 111. 

OSTIEN, HERMAN C , Monmouth, Oregon 

OWEN, W. T? 1854 N. 16th Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 

OWENS, ROY 413 W. North Street, Kokomo, Ind. 

PACA, E. T 104 Gloucester Street, Annapolis, Md. 

PADDOCK. M. B Kansas City, Mo. 

PAMENTER, A. M 1718 S. Water Street, Wichita, Kan. 

PARENT, FRANK D 104 South Market Street, Inglewood, Cal. 

PARKER, CHAS. F Indianapolis, Ind. 

PARTRIDGE, I. E E. 41 King Street, Hartford, Conn. 

PATCH, ISAAC Gloucester, Mass. 

PATE. CHAS. 218 LaFayette Street, Water Valley, Miss. 

PATTERSON, J. N Milwaukee, Wis. 

PATILLO, JAS. A Fordyce, Ark. 

PAUL, F. M., JR Meade, Kan. 



In the Le Mans Area 211 

PECK, HENRY J Warren, R. I. 

PEEL, A. W 29 LaFayette Street, White Plains, N. J. 

PERCY, JOHN G 1368 East 11th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 

PENG, YAO-H SIANG (Chinese) 

PERKINS, G. LAWRENCE Pomfret, Conn. 

PERKINS, B. A Hotel Morse, Berkeley, Cal. 

PERRY, E. R Pocantica Hills, N. Y. 

PERSON, S. H 16 North Jerome Street, Lansing, Mich. 

PETERSON, BERNARD 419 Salem Street, Woburn, Mass. 

PHIPPS, H. M 1108 College Street, Indianapolis, Ind. 

PLAIN, W. A 44 North Street, Binghamton, N. Y. 

PIERCE, H. F 7711 Cannon Street, Swissvale, Pa. 

PEMBERTON, WYNN R 237 West Penn Street, Whittier, Cal. 

PIATT, B. C 344 Northern Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. 

POLLARD, AARON B Wanamaker, Ind. 

POLLARD, BERNARD F Studley, Va. 

POE, NELSON Fostoria, Ohio 

PONDER, GUY F Town Creek, Ala. 

PRETTYMAN, W. B., JR 649 Maryland Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 

PRICE, E. H 493 Kenoak Drive, Pomona, Cal. 

PRICE, J. W 4331 Park Ave., New York City 

PRICE, ORA South Weymouth, Mass. 

PRYOR, S. P 2115 Grandland Ave., Nashville, Tenn. 

PURDY, WM 24 Sherman Ave., New York City 

PUTNAM, I. L Grass Range, Mont. 

RAIGUEL, W 735 Terrace Ave., Grand Rapids, Mich. 

RAIT, ROBERT (No record address) 

RALSTON, JOHN G Dixon, 111. 

RAMSAY, CHAS. I Bridge Street, Berwick, Maine 

RAMSEY, HERBERT 6 Colon Street, Allston, Mass. 

RANNE, G. O Waukegan, 111. 

RAUDABAUGH. ORVILLE 3-37 E. Wayne Street, Celina, Ohio 

RAWLINGS, R. B 935 Minn. Ave., Kansas City, Mo. 

REASONER, S. W New Brighton, Minn. 

REED, R. C Nevada, Iowa 

REESE, F. B 199 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Ga. 

REID, JAMES S 158 N. Parkside Ave., Chicago. 111. 

REID, W. W Albany, Ohio 

REEDER, GEO. L 829 Fourth Ave., Williamsport,. Pa. 

REEVES, A. R 408 South L. Street, Tacoma, Wash. 

RENISON, WM. T 5 W. Willow Street, Stocltton, Cal. 

REXFORD, EUGENE G 2107 N. Delaware Street, Indianapolis, Ind. 

RHOADES, O. W 25 17th Ave., Columbus, Ohio 

RICE, W. A 900 State Stre-t, Alton, 111. 

RICH, CHAS. F 451 Walsworth Ave., Oakland, Cal. 

RICHARDS, ROGER Monessen, Pa. 

RICHARDSON, R. R Fredonia, Kan. 

RIGHTS. W. F 2227 N. Alabama Street, Indianapolis. Ind. 

PmT,KV. TT-T ovr) F R. F. D. No. 1, Whitesboro, N. Y. 

RITTENHOUSE, E. M Cairo, W. Va. 

RITTER, R. J... Plant City, Fla. 

ROBERTS, HAROLD J Pensacola, Fla. 

ROBERTSON, JAMES McGregor, Iowa 

ROBINSON, EUGENE H Fort Morgan, Colo. 

ROE, CHAS. E - Morgan Park, Duluth, Minn. 

ROERING, H. A 2634 W. 27th Ave., Denver, Colo. 

POGERS, CHAS. W Bowling Green, Ky. 

ROGERS, WHITFIELD 1201 Columbus Ave., Waco, Texas 

ROOD, LEE W Fulton, Miss. 

ROUNDS, W. S Portland, Maine 

ROWE. HARLAN P 543 Cass Avenue, Detroit, Mich. 

RONALD, HUGH N Thorntown, Ind. 



212 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

ROQUS W.; (No record address) 

RUBRIGHT, AARON 414 Nash Street, Akron, Ohio 

RUGG, J. C _ 130T East Fifth Street, Pueblo, Colo. 

RUSSELL, E. R 3030 Federal Street, EI Paso, Texas 

SAMPSON, WM. H Lake Worth, Fla. 

SANDRED, DAGFIN Stavanger, Norway 

SAVAGE, H. P .2614 Hoyt Ave., Everett, Wash. 

SCOFIELD, RUSSELL .'. Columbus, Miss. 

SCROGGINS, J. H 2T South Ruby Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 

SCULLY, J. S., JR 326 Shady Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 

SELLERS, S. N 211 South Fifth Street, Clinton, Ind. 

SHARP, SAMUEL Columbus, Ind. 

SHERMAN, GEO. H 141 Speedwell Ave., Morristown, N. J. 

SHEWRY, WM. M 7016 Greenview Ave., Chicago, 111. 

SHIELDS, DONN J State Capitol, Sacramento, Cal. 

SHIPPEY, H. L Kansas, Mo. 

SHORT, A. E... 407 Highland Ave., Beliot, Wis. 

SIKES, ERIC B Birmingham, Ohio 

SHRIVER, E. E Pittsfield, 111. 

SHUMWAY, A. J 2017 R. D. W. Y., Scottsbluif, Nebr. 

SIMMONS, T. T 412 C. C. Ave., Columbia, Mo. 

SINCLAIR, A. G 23 Park Place, Bloomfleld, N. J. 

SKINNER, R. McK 1616 Ave. U., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

SLOAN, DAVID A Bloomfleld, Mo. 

SMAIL, CLARENCE M 1158 50th Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

SMEADE, (Archdeacon) (No record address) 

SMILEY, E. L : 5 Pleasant Street, Ashburnham, Mass. 

SMITH, REV. E. H Chico, Cal. 

SMITH, HORACE D .1413 Fourth Street, Portsmouth, Ohio 

SMITH, OLIVER H 3006 Victor Street, St. Louis, Mo. 

SMITH, OSCAR N Lebanon, Tenn. 

SMITH, R. C 2808 Ruckle Street, Indianapolis, Ind. 

SMITH, T. W 46 New Street, East Orange, N. J. 

SNOW, R. C. .: 1122 River Street, Hyde Park, Mass. 

SNYDER, E. L Monroeville, Ala. 

SOVEREIGN, G. 1 5210 11th Street, N. E., Seattle, Wash. 

SPARKS, R. W 58 N. Division Street, Auburn, N. Y. 

SPEIDEN, T. L 1721 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, N. C. 

SPEER, C. B Ill East 44th Street, Indianapolis, Ind. 

SPRINGETT, R. E Lowell, Mich. 

STAPLES, JOHN L Evergreen, Va. 

STECKER, H. B 2128 Carlisle Ave., Racine, Wis. 

STEELE, A. R Paducah, Ky. 

STEELE, F. T 95 Clinton Ave., Jamaica, N. Y. 

STEVENS, W. B Nickerson, Kan. 

STEWART, B. M Camp Bowie, Texas 

STEWART, C. C 2224 State Street, Alton, 111. 

STEWART, MANSON A Yankton, So. Dak. 

STEWART, NOMAN H Lewisburg, Pa. 

STILL, J. L 637 37th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 

STEINFELD, M 169 Boyd Street, Newark, N. J. 

STIMSON, W. A Urbana, Ohio 

STITT, J. H 4223 Farnam Street, Omaha, Nebr. 

STOKES, ALFRED.... 43 Hillcrest Ave., Stamford, Conn. 

STONE, H. 325 Rogers Ave., Olympia, Wash. 

STONE, JAMES B Ventura, Cal. 

STONE, JAMES S 532 Park Road, Ambridge, Pa. 

STONE, LEWIS 532 Park Road, Ambridge, Pa. 

STONE, B. T 423 Russellwood Ave., McKees Rock, Pa. 

STONE, L. S 1144 N. San Joaquin Street, Stockton, Cal. 

STOVER, F. A 609 W. Rex Street, South Bend, Tnd. 

STRAWBRIDGE, B. A Seattle, Wash. 



In the Le Mans Area 213 

STREET, J. W : Nashville, Ind. 

STROUD, A. D 43 Church Street, Hudson, Mass. 

STRONG, PAUL S m....m Bellingham, Wash. 

SWEET, E. A 191 Main Street, Binghampton, N. Y. 

SWISHER, LEONARD A 251 East Washington Street, Huntington, Ind. 

SADLER, B. L Chapel Hill, Texas 

TAIT, JOHN L 1914 Summit Street, Columbus, Ohio 

TAIT, LEONARD G Care Judge C. Williams, Columbus, Ohio 

TALCOTT, C. G 1609 30th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 

TALOOTT, G. S New Britain, Conn. 

TALCOTT, R Riverside, 111. 

TAYLOR, A. E Denver, Colo. 

TAYLOR, G. J Molalla, Oregon 

TAYLOR, O. N 6556 Normal Bldg., Chicago, 111. 

TAYLOR, W. D 249 Commonwealth Ave., Newton, Mass. 

TAYLOR, WALTER S 315 Calder Street, Harrisburg, Pa. 

THOMAS, DANIEL M 251 North Third Street, Danville, Ky. 

THOMAS, JAMES HAROLD 509 E. Caruthers Street, Portland, Oregon 

THOMAS, G. H Oakland, Cal. 

THOMAS, G. W (No record address) 

THOMAS, THOMAS J 2126 Marker Street, Youngstown, Ohio 

THOMPSON, A Thompson Ridge, N. Y. 

THOMPSON, H. 1 530 Macon Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

THORNBERRY, D. W .309 Thornburg Street, Laramie, Wy. 

TOBEY, DAN 1220 South Union Ave., Los Angeles, Cal. 

TOBIAS, M. S 2444 Clay Street, San Francisco, Cal. 

TODD, H. H Adel, Iowa 

TOWERS, W. K 193 California Ave., Detroit, Mich. 

TRACY, JAMES E 120 Ledge Road, Burlington, Vt. 

TRIPPLE, P. R 627 15th Ave., N., Seattle, Wash. 

TRUDEN, T. A Woodlawn Inn, Pittsfield, Mass. 

TURNER, PAUL Heyworth, 111. 

TURNEY, ARTHUR M .....187 Dakota Street, Bellevue, Pa. 

TWITCHELL, B. P 241 Clinton Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

TYLER, DALLAS... (No record address) 

ULLOM. J. T.... 14 Ashland Ave., Methuen, Mass. 

UNDERWOOD, J. W 1335 Jackson Street, Anderson, Ind. 

UPTON, ALFRED H Frankfort, Mich. 

UROSELL, R. F (No record address) 

VANCE, J. D 7425 Weld Street, Oakland, Cal. 

VAN DYKE, W. E ...Smethport, Pa. 

VAN HOESEN, L. B 1224 Ninth Street, Des Moinss, Iowa 

VAN SCHAICK, LEMUEL W Carman Ave., Scarsvile, N. Y. 

VAN WINKLE, R. B 434 North Spruce Street, Colorado Springs, Colo. 

VENNART, WM 47 Brownell Ave., Hartford, Conn. 

VOORHEES, OSCAR McM 315 E. 146th Street, New York City 

VORE, GLEN 614 N. Courtland Ave., Kokomo, Ind. 

VOSLER, ARTHUR B 165 Hudson Terrace, Piermont, N. Y. 

WADMOND. SAMUEL C 305 Washington Street, Delavan, Wis. 

WAGGENER, O. R 55 Hanson Place, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

W ATX A CE, CALVERT Cadiz, Ky. 

WALRATH, EDWIN M 2711 Hoyt Ave., Everett, Wash. 

WANN, NORMAN G 1374 W. Decatur Street, Decatur, 111. 

WVRD, F. C ...2318 South 35th Ave., Omaha, Nebr. 

WARD. W. H 853 South 16th Street, Newark, N. J. 

WARNER, E. G 56 Montgomery Place, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

WARREN, W. H 1107 E. Alder Street, Portland, Oregon 

WAR R INGTON, E. W Roseburg, Oregon 

WATERFIELD, CLOUGH A 1 Queenland Street, Brownsville, Tenn. 

WATERS, L. H Pensacola, Fla. 

WATERS, A. T Lookout Mountain, Tenn. 

WATERS, RAY K 1143 Lincoln Road, Columbus, Ohio 



214 History of the Y. M. C. A. 

WATKINS, ED N 1711 N. Fife Street, Tacoma, Wash. 

WATKINS, THOS. D Huntsville, Texas 

WATSON, GEO. H 2 Hickock Street, Burlington, Vt. 

WATSON, JESSE B Box 234, Grand Rapids, Mich. 

WATSON, RALPH C The Englewood, Winona Lake, Ind. 

WEBER, WALTER W 2007 Ocean View Ave., Los Angeles, Cal. 

WEBSTER, G. E 115 R. R. Ave., Rye, N. Y. 

WEBSTER, O. W Richford, Vt. 

WEIR, W. J 291 Brackett Street, Portland, Maine 

WEIST, D. W 2200 Prospect Street, Cleveland, Ohio 

WELLMAN, E. E 312 Van Buren Street, Jamestown, N. Y. 

WELLONS, W. E 2215 S. E. Sixth Street, Des Moines, Iowa 

WERNSDORGER, GEO 313 Stagg Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

WESTBROOK, CRUGER 401 Bd. Street, Albany, Ga. 

WEYAND, CHAS. M 46 Forsythe Street, Boston, Mass. 

WHEATLEY, ARTHUR B Annapolis, Md. 

WHITBECK, FRANK 125 Delevan Street, Rochester, N. Y. 

WHITE, F. D - Robbinsdale, Minn. 

WHITE, R. H GunnisTO, Colo. 

WHITE, W. H ...2124 Marion Street, St. Joseph, Mo. 

WHITMAN, BENJ 1224 N. Second Street, Harrisburg, Pa. 

WHITWELL, E. O - Norman, Okla. 

WIGGINS, G. N Chattanooga, Tenn. 

WILCOX, G. H 471 Oakland Ave., St. Paul, Minn. 

WILDING, W. A Harrison Ave., Harrison, N. Y. 

WILKINSON, EDWARD S 164 Church Street, North Adams, Mass. 

WILKINSON, R. N Huntino;ton, W. Va. 

WILLARD, CLARENCE 896 Asylum Ave., Hartford, Conn. 

WILLIAMS, CHAS. H ! Tacoma, Wash. 

WILLIAMiS, F. E Bridgeport, Nebr. 

WILLIAMS, HERBERT .....833 Fourth Ave., Altoona, Pa. 

WILLIAMS, H. B 3 Franklin Street, Lynn, Mass. 

WILLIAMS, H. P 1912 North Prospect Ave., Tacoma, Wash. 

WILLIAMS, J. V Hotel Indian, Indianapolis, Ind. 

WILT,IAMuS, PALPH J 1424 K Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. 

WILLIAMS, W. R R. R. No. 1, Delaware, Ohio 

^VTT,MER, C. B .-700 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta, Ga. 

WILLY, S. G -- (No record address) 

WILSON, L. A Helena, Mont. 

WINCHESTER, B. H 509 South Jackson Street, Jackson, Mi'^"'-'. 

WILSON, A. C - Bellows Falls, Vt. 

WINE, JOHN C 854 Webster Ave., Chicago, 111. 

WINKENWEIDER, V. 67 Van Buren Street, Naperville, 111. 

WINN, W. G 4012 Berteau Street, Chicago, 111. 

WINSLOW, HAROLD Hotel Liberty, Glasgow, Ky. 

WINTER, WM 77 West 101st Street, New York City 

WILSON, CLIFFORD A 302 B. Street, Hot Springs, S. D. 

WILSON, RICHARD L Indianapolis, Ind. 

WITTS, MILFORD 437 N. Tenth Street, Madison, Wis. 

WOLFE, O. HOWARD Radnor, Pa. 

WOODS, L. L 486 Beale Street, E. Milton, Mass. 

WOOD, W. S 4821 Greer Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 

WOODS, E. B : South Broad Street, Glassboro, N. J. 

WOODWORTH, G. W 108 Kent Street, Hartford, Conn. 

WORTH, JOHN FRANCIS 149 West 21st Street, New York City 

WRAY, JOE S 110 E. Third Ave., Gatonia, N. C. 

WRIGHT, S. BRUCE 3934 14th Ave., Oakland, Cal. 

WYND, JOHN R Main Street, New Paris, Ohio 

YERKES, C. C 121 Mt. Vernon Ave., Detroit, Mich. 

YOUNG, B. F Warren, Ind. 

YOUNG, H. H 100 Rowe Ave., Hartford, Conn. 

YOUTZ, E. F Honolulu, Hawaii 



In the Le Mans Area 



215 



ARMY DETAIL MEN ON DUTY WITH Y. M. C. A., JUNE 1, 1919 



Abbott, Robert W., Pvt. 
Adkins, Gordon L., Cook 
Bentzel, Jacob, Cpl. 
Blake, Jacob, Cpi. 
Blake, Edmond, Pvt. 
Branch, John R., Cpl. 
Bridges, Otto G, Pvt. 
Brown, J. R., Cpl. 
Cahalan, Albert, Cpl. 
Corbin, Anton, Sgt. Icl 
Chandler, James Z., Pvt. 
Clements, Don C, Pvt. 
Cronea, Charles, Pvt. 
Carey, Frank P., Sgt. Icl 
Deschin, Gustave, Sgt. 
Dickey, Leslie J., Sgt. Icl 
Drier, Walter A., Pvt. 
Dyer, Charles H., Cpl. 
Earnshaw, Edvi'ard P., Pvt. 
Finch, Robert W., Pvt. 
Fleitz, B. L., Pvt. 
Fletcher, Harry R., Pvt. 
Fotuski, Anthony E., Sgt. Icl 
Ginzberg, Henry, Pvt. 
Goodman, I^awrence A., Sgt. 
Gray, Marvin A., Sgt. 
Gwinnup, Carl, Sgt. Id 
Hamersmith, Robert H., Pvt. 
Hankison, Robert W., Pvt. 
Harris, George W., Pvt. Icl 
I'-Tai-n, Thomas B., Pvt. 
Hedington, Alva E., Sgt. 
Hess, Hans, Pvt. 
Hunerberg, Nathan, Pvt. 
Huntley, Raymond, J., Pvt. 
Jackson, William T., Pvt. 
Johnson, Lloyd H., Wag. 
Johnson, Edward, Pvt. 
Johnson, Oscar J., Sgt. 
Joines, Walter D., Sai. 
Jorgansen, Marcus K., Wag. 
Kaiser, Gilbert S., Pvt. Icl 
King, Archier P., Pvt. 
Knudsen, James A., Cpl. 
LaPlante, Lionel, Pvt. 
Ledoiix, Wilfred, Pvt. 



Lee, Leslie L., Sgt. 
Linscome, Graydon, Pvt. 
Livingston, Duncan, Cpl. 
Lynch, Frank, Pvt. 
Martin, William H., Sgt. 
Mattheyer, E., Sgt. 
McDonald, John W., Sgt. 
McHan, John H., Pvt. 
Mechin, Vance W., Sgt. 
Menglo, Adam J., Pvt. 
Merck, Clyde, Pvt. 
Merrill, Leo Foss, Sgt. 
Nixdorf, Edward A., Pvt. 
Moulton, Walter E., Bug. 
Mockbee, Jack D., Sgt. 
Murray, Francis, Sgt. 
Noble, Allen G., Sgt. 
Novak, Frank X., Sgt. 
North, Frank A., Sgt. 
Odom, Don C, Wag. 
Ohlman, George R., Pvt. 
Payne, Dewey, Pvt. Icl 
Phair, Martin, Pvt. 
Phillips, Otho, Pvt. 
Pulsford, Alfred L., Pvt. 
Ripple, Frank C, Pvt. 
Roose, Brian H., Cpl. 
Sampler, Samuel. L., Sgt. 
Sandville, L. F., Pvt. 
Scott, James H., Pvt. 
Schnitzer, Harry E., Pvt. 
Smith, Clifford Austin, Pvt. 
Spiro, Ralph B., Pvt. 
Steflfanus, Emil E., Wag. 
Swieringa, Andrew, Wag. 
Svmonds, Walter P.. Pvt. Icl 
Utman, Clyde R., Wag. 
Unrath, Carl, Se-t. 
Vorides, Spyridon, Pvt. 
Voss, Georoje. Wag. 
Wagner, Theodore, Pvt. Icl 
Wel1inq:hiff, Joseph, Cook 
Werble, Herman, Pvt. 
Wysong, Ray R., Pvt. 
Whitney, Carl C, Pvt. 



216 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 



CATALOGUE OF PHOTOGRAPHS 

TAKEN under direction of Blanche C. Grant, Lincoln, Nebraska, 
by Army Signal Corps Photographers George Shock, Alliance, 
Ohio, and Clarence Sper, New York City, and by Wm. Rugg, Y. 
M. C. A. 

Note: All negatives of photographs listed m this catalog were 
turned over to the historical department of the Paris Headquarters 
properly numbered and indexed. All records of that office were sent to 
the New York office and requests for prints from any of these neg-atives 
should be sent to Historical Bureaus Y. M. C. A. — A. E. F., 347 
Madison Avenue, New York City. Numbers given here correspond 
with the numbers of the respective negatives. 



HEADQUARTERS GROUP 

1. Regional Directors' Office 

2. Regional Business Director's Office 

3. Headquarters at 71 Rue Chanzy 

4. Doorway of Headquarters 

5. Yard With Small Group 

6. Yard With All Hdqrs. Autos and 
Drivers — June Only 

7. Transportation Office Exterior 

8. Office of Women's Bureau 

9. Women Welfare Workers With 
General Pershing 

10. Cinema Office 

11. Cinema Director 

12. Entertainment Director and Staff 

13. A. L. A. Library 



Y. D. HUT GROUP 

14. Cathedral View 

15. Fire Place With Large Group 

16. Fire Place With Small Group 

17. Information Desk 

18. Shopping Bureau 

19. Stage and Canteen View 

20. Y. D. With the Sign 

Also see Miscellaneous Group. 

CEMETERY GROUPS 

21. Funeral of Miss Valentine. Group 
of "Y" Girls at Grave. 

23. Funeral Procession With Faces 
Front. 

23. Funeral Procession With Faces 
Right. 

24. The Three Ministers at the Grave 

25. The Casket at the Grave 

26. Harry Fisher's Grave 



CENTRAL HUT 

30. Front Door 

31. Front Door Yard ' 

32. Fire Place Group With Mrs. Tait 

33. Information Desk 

34. Ping Pong Table Group 
Sight-Seeing Group 



35 



2 Exterior 
2 Interior 



SPUR CAMP 

36. Exterior With "Y" Personnel 

37. Interior With Chocolate Line No. 1 

38. Interior With Chocolate Line No. 2 

39. Interior With View of Stage 

FORWARDING CAMP 

40. Harrah Hut 

41. Harrah Hut Stage 

42. Harrah Hut Fire Place 

43. Women's Dormitory 

44. New Mexico Hut; No. 

45. New Mexico Hut; No 
With Stage 

46. Keystone Hut 

Also see Miscellaneous Group. 

FORWARDING CAMP GROUP 

47. Serving Sandwiches Under Tree's 

48. When Officer 666 Came to the 
Camp; Time 9:30 P. M. 

49. Swimming Pool 

50. Boxing Bout No. 1 

51. Boxing Bout No. 2 

52. Boxing Bout No. 3 

CHINESE Y. M. C. A., LE MANS 

54. Exterior With Plain Sign 

55. Exterior With "Y" Sign Partly 
Hidden 

56. Interior With Mr. Peng Reading 

57. Interior With Mr. Peng Look- 
ing Up 



In the Le Mans Area 



217 



FOYER DU SOLD AT 

58. Secretaries on Stage 

59. Practice Boxing at Noon 

MONTFORT "Y" 

60. Exterior (Old Fish Market) 

61. Interior (Old Fish Market) 

LA SUZE 

62. Exterior Holding Camp With 
Personnel 

63. Exterior With Darkies, Holding 
Camp 

64. Interior With Personnel and Stage 

65. Interior With Full Length View 

66. Interior With Two Figures 

67. Interior Toward the Door 

68. Rolling Canteen at La Suze 

69. La Suze Personnel 

70. Serving Chocolate at La Suze 

71. Cinema Outfit at La Suze 

72. Soldiers Listening to an Address 
Out-of-doors 

73. Soldier Actors' Group 

MALICORNE 

74. Interior of Hall 

75. Anteroom of "Y" 

76. Street Singing No. 1 

77. Street Singing No. 2 

BELGIAN CAMP 

78. Old Belgian Hut 

79. Hangar Through the Trees 

80. Cinema Box at the Belgian Hut 

81. Blue Ridge Hut Interior 

83. Entraining Near Belgian Camp, 
Champagne 

83. Entraining at Champagne (Large 
Figures) 

84. Officers' Club, Interior 

85. Library at the Officers' Club 

86. Porch at the Officers' Club 

87. Indiana Hut, Interior 

CLASSIFICATION CAMP 

88. Exterior Delaware Hut 

89. Interior 

90. Interior With Mrs. Lewis at the 
Piano 

91. Mother's Corner With Mrs. Sterling 

92. Ball Game, Bleachers 

93. Ball Game 

94. The Library 

95. The Long Settee 

SALVAGE CAMP, LE MANS 

96. Interior Toward Stage 

97. Interior Writing Room 

98. Interior With "Y" Girl in Fore- 
ground 

99. Sister's Corner 



CAFETERIA, LE MANS 

100. Interior Toward Canteen 

101. Interior Toward Canteen No. 2 

102. Canteen Orchestra 

103. Cafeteria Personnel at Counter 

104. Cafeteria Personnel Group Out- 
doors 

105. Cafeteria Cooks 

106. Cafeteria Interior Toward Stage 

107. Cafeteria Lunch Line 

Also see Miscellaneous Group. 

PAGEANT GROUP 

123. Banner Bearers 

124. Monks With Pet Dogs 

125. Mounted Knights 

126. Knights With Shields 

127. In Front of the Chateau 

ECOMiMOY GROUP 

128. A Chance Group at St. Quen "Y" 

129. Canteen at St. Quen 

130. Stage at St. Quen 

131. Tent at St. Biez 

132. Exterior of Tent at St. Biez With 
Personnel Seated 

133. Exterior of Tent at St. Biez With 
Personnel Seated 

134. Stage at Yvre le Polin 

135. Interior of "Y" at Yvre le Polin 

136. Interior of "Y" Hut, Ecommoy 
Division 

137. Interior of Hut No. 2 

REGIONAL SECRETARIES 

138. Regional Secretaries (Hats On) 

139. Regional Secretaries (Hats Off) 

140. Regional and Divisional Secre- 
taries, etc. (Hats On) 

141. Regional and Divisional Secre- 
taries, etc. (Hats Off) 

MISCELLANEOUS 

27. Dance at Hotel Paris 

28. Rolling Canteen at the Place de la 
Republique 

29. First A. L. A. Library at Le 
Mans 

108. Detail Who Built Indiana Hut 

109. Indiana Hut 

110. Soldiers in Y. D. Hut No. 2 

112. A. L. A. Interior No. 1 

113. A. L. A. Interior No. 2 

114. A. L. A. Interior No. 3 

115. A. L. A. Interior No. 4 (Many 
Figures 

116. Forwarding Camp Auditorium, 
Exterior 

117. Y. D. Hut Under Construction; 
Later 



218 



History of the Y. M. C. A. 



MISCELLANEOUS 



118. Auditorium Full of Soldiers; 
Forwarding Camp 154. 

119. Y. D. Hut Construction Detail 155. 

120. Y. D. Under Construction, Early 

121. Lunch Line Inside Cafeteria 156. 
133. Polish Canteen 

U3. Cafeteria Detail Group 157. 

143. Keystone Construction Detail 

144. Keystone Construction Detail 158. 
No. 3 159. 

145. Lunch Line in Front of Cafeteria 

146. Soldier Actors in Le Mans 160. 

147. Welfare Workers Group at A. E. 161. 
C. Championship Class Camp 162. 

148. Under Cover Company 163. 

149. Caste for Lender Cover Company 

150. 137th at the Y. D. Hut 164. 

151. Mother Warden and Her Detail 165. 
153. Soldiers at the Georgia Hut; Ex- 166. 

terior 167. 

153. Y. D. Hut Personnel— Woman 168. 



Personnel 

Transportation Tent in Le Mans 

Entraining at the Forwarding 

Camp 

Y. D. Hut Group of Soldiers; 

Interior 

Army and Y. M. C. A. Personnel 

in Le Mans 

Actor Group 

Medals Awarded in Decoration 

Contest 

Reverse of Two Medals 

Winners in Tennis Doubles 

Rolling Canteen at the Rifle Meet 

Rolling Canteen at the Rifle Meet 

No. 2 

La Fleche; Exterior 

La Fleche; Interior 

Mezeray 

Chemerie 

Bazouges 



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FRENCH HELPERS 

SPECIAL recognition is here accorded to the many splendid French 
people of Le Mans who so faithfully served the Association there. 
These lists would not be complete without a record of the following 
four^ who in their capacity as interpreters, made possible the fine 
feeling and understanding which developed between the French and 
Americans : 

Prof. Luzy P. Bizeray, 19 Rue des Plantes, Le Mans, Sarthe. 

Rene Bourgade, 15 Rue des Fontaines, Le Mans, Sarthe. 

S. E. Ernest Didot, care Dr. Ness, 99 Bedford Court Mans, Lon- 
don, W. C. 1. 

Gilberta Define, 15 Bates Avenue, West Qincey, Massachusetts. 



Contents; 



This compilation of the Summ'ary of Service falls into four 
main sections. 

Section One — Beginning with page 3 is by way of intro- 
ductory and is entirely general and regional in its scope, show- 
ing plan of organization, and general summary of statistics 
in tabulated form. 

Section Two — Beginning with page 19 deals with work 
in and about Le Mans proper. The Forwarding Camp, the 
Belgian Camp and ten separate camps and units which made 
up what was known as the Depot Division. Also the various 
departments, bureaus and activities handled on a regional 
basis. 

Section Three — Beginning with page 141 carries the 
stories of the outlying billeting areas with the high lights on 
the particular Divisions or Army units that at various times 
occupied the area. 

Section Four — Beginning with page 188 contains some 
commendatory letters from military sources together, with an 
alphabetical list of personnel of secretaries serving in the 
region and a catalog of the photographic record of the work. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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